French Open player Aryna Sabalenka skips presser over mental health

Aryna Sabalenka skipped her press conference after a second-round victory at the French Open, citing her mental health.

After Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open winner, dispatched Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, the second-seed Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, detailed why she wasn’t holding an open press conference, instead opting to speak to a few journalists picked specifically by the tournament organizers.

“For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to take myself out of this situation today, and the tournament has supported me in this decision,” she said. “On Wednesday, I did not feel safe in press conference.” 

“I should be able to feel safe when I do press conferences. It hasn’t been an easy few days, and now my focus is continue to play well here in Paris.”

After her first-round win, a Ukrainian journalist asked her two questions: one about Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and how she could possibly support a dictator.