Tennis star Victoria Azarenka has tense exchange with Wimbledon reporter over Russia question

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Tennis star Victoria Azarenka defeated Yue Yuan in her first-round matchup at Wimbledon on Monday in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and she is set to take on Nadia Podoroska in the second round Wednesday.

However, things got a little tense for Azarenka in her post-match interview. Azarenka is participating without the flag of her home country of Belarus because of the nation’s involvement in Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Azarenka was asked about her treatment from the fans in her first match.

"Just like I never left, honestly. It feels good to be playing here," she said. "For me, personally, I experienced very good treatment. ... Today, to hear people say, ‘Let’s go, Vika!’ and cheering me on was also why I play, to play in front of the crowd, to put on a good show."

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Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, plays a return to China's Yuan Yue during the first round women's singles match on day one of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Then, came the tense moment.

A reporter asked Azarenka what Wimbledon meant to Russia, according to news.au.com.

"You do know I’m not from Russia, right?" Azarenka said.

The reporter acknowledged Azarenka and followed up asking, "Just in terms of being on tour, at all, is that something that you have become aware of at all, if it’s significant?"

Azarenka replied that the reporter would have to be more direct as she was not really understanding the question. The reporter tried to clarify asking how big she saw the tournament on an international level.

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