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

Tennis star Victoria Azarenka defeated Yue Yuan in her first-round matchup at Wimbledon on Monday in three units 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and she or he is about to tackle Nadia Podoroska within the second spherical Wednesday.

Nonetheless, issues acquired just a little tense for Azarenka in her post-match interview. Azarenka is collaborating with out the flag of her residence nation of Belarus due to the nation’s involvement in Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Azarenka was requested about her remedy from the followers in her first match.

“Similar to I by no means left, truthfully. It feels good to be enjoying right here,” she mentioned. “For me, personally, I skilled excellent remedy. … At present, to listen to folks say, ‘Let’s go, Vika!’ and cheering me on was additionally why I play, to play in entrance of the group, to placed on a superb present.”

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Then, got here the tense second.

A reporter requested Azarenka what Wimbledon meant to Russia, in keeping with information.au.com.

“You do know I’m not from Russia, proper?” Azarenka mentioned.

The reporter acknowledged Azarenka and adopted up asking, “Simply when it comes to being on tour, in any respect, is that one thing that you’ve got turn out to be conscious of in any respect, if it’s vital?”

Azarenka replied that the reporter must be extra direct as she was not likely understanding the query. The reporter tried to make clear asking how massive she noticed the match on a global stage.

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Victoria Azarenka serves within the Ladies’s Singles first spherical match towards Yue Yuan of China throughout day one in all The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership on July 3, 2023 in London. (Shi Tang/Getty Photographs)

“You’ve got clearly performed in Russia previously. How vital do you are feeling the match is?” the reporter mentioned.

Azarenka tried to ask for extra clarification asking whether or not the reporter meant how Wimbledon is seen on the worldwide or what the Grand Slam occasion meant to her. The reporter mentioned that they really meant “worldwide stage and simply being on tour. It’s only a query we have been asking round its affect in Russia” on condition that this was the primary time Russian gamers have been allowed again into the match for the reason that warfare started.

“I feel on the worldwide stage, Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of many greatest tennis occasions, and it’s at all times been. So it’s iconic. It’s iconic,” she mentioned “How it’s in Russia? I’m not from Russia. I can’t actually inform you the way it feels in Russia.”

Victoria Azarenka appears to be like on towards Yue Yuan of Individuals’s Republic of China within the Ladies’s Singles first spherical match on day one in all The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership on July 3, 2023 in London. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Photographs)

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Azarenka has two Grand Slam titles on her resume – back-to-back wins on the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Her greatest end at Wimbledon got here within the semifinals in 2011 and 2012.

The Related Press contributed to this report.