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French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

PARIS: Two years after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open when she was fined, then threatened with disqualification, for skipping news conferences, another top tennis player — No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion — was allowed to avoid the traditional postmatch session open to all accredited journalists and instead speak Friday with what was described as a “pool” of selected questioners. Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, didn’t appear at a news conference Friday after reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova.

Sabalenka refuses French Open press conference 'to feel safe'

Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka refused to do an official post-match press conference after her French Open match on Friday, claiming she "did not feel safe" when previously questioned about the war in Ukraine.

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka skips presser, cites mental health - ESPN

PARIS — Aryna Sabalenka skipped an open news conference after her third-round win at the French Open on Friday, saying she made the decision for her own «mental health and well-being.»

World Number Two Aryna Sabalenka Powers Into French Open Second Week

Aryna Sabalenka booked her place in the French Open last 16 for the first time with a straight-sets win over Russian Kamilla Rakhimova at Roland Garros on Friday. The Belarusian second seed is yet to drop a set in the tournament after a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win against the world number 82. Sabalenka is one of the favourites for the championship after a fine start to the year, including securing her maiden Grand Slam triumph in Melbourne and lifting the Madrid Open title. "Every tournament is a different tournament, Roland Garros is completely different to Australia, a different surface," she said.

Lorenzo Sonego Comeback Shocks Andrey Rublev At French Open

Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock seventh seed Andrey Rublev out of the French Open on Friday and reach the last 16 for the second time. The world number 48 was two points from defeat during a fourth-set tie-break but prevailed 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after three hours and 42 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Sonego will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov for a possible quarter-final meeting with 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. "Incredible comeback today," he said. "I played more aggressive than in the first and second sets because when he's aggressive it's tough to compete against him.

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French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

Sabalenka refuses French Open press conference 'to feel safe'

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka skips presser, cites mental health - ESPN

World Number Two Aryna Sabalenka Powers Into French Open Second Week

Lorenzo Sonego Comeback Shocks Andrey Rublev At French Open

Svitolina gets past Blinkova to stay on track at French Open

Belarusian Sabalenka skips French Open presser, cites mental health reasons

Sabalenka hurries into French Open fourth round