Sabalenka's Wins Celebrated By President Lukashenko Despite 'No Flag'

Saturday, 08 April 2023 at 06:00

Updated at Friday, 07 April 2023 at 23:49

bySebastian Dahlman

Aryna Sabalenka is making her fans proud in 2023 but it seems that also Belarus' president Alexander Lukashenko.

The world no. 2, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, recently made headlines when she publicly declared her support for global peace. Her comments caught the attention of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who addressed Sabalenka's anti-war stance in a recent statement.

Lukashenko assured the tennis star and other Belarusian athletes that he shares their sentiments, emphasizing that he too opposes war but believes the West is responsible for instigating conflict, an opinion not shared by tennis' governing bodies as the players from Russia and Belarus compete under a neutral flag.

"Look, I'm against the war. You are against the war too. Well, do you want to receive a statement from an athlete that he is against the war? I don't mind it. Let them say that they are against the war."

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President Lukashenko also touched on Sabalenka's status as a neutral player on the WTA Tour since March 2022. Despite not competing under the Belarusian flag, Lukashenko remains proud of the tennis champion and her accomplishments. He insisted that the absence of a flag does not diminish the pride Belarusians feel for their athletes.

"But if our athlete, for example, Nedosekov, you know, a high jumper, if he comes out and performs and, at the moment, he doesn't have our flag, will we feel less pride for him, or what? Or Aryna Sabalenka. She won the tournament (Australian Open), she defeated, Rybakina, remember? Recently she lost to Rybakina (in the Indian Wells) final. We all know this!"