Belarus tennis star Aryna Sabalenka laid down the regulation from the outset at Wimbledon on Saturday, insisting she is not going to get dragged again into the emotional maelstrom of discussing the Ukraine battle. The world quantity two and reigning Australian Open champion boycotted two media conferences on the current French Open after dealing with a barrage of questions over the struggle and her hyperlinks to Alexander Lukashenko, her nation’s president and key ally of Russia.

“Before we continue I would like to say I’m not going to talk about politics,” the 25-year-old advised reporters on the conventional pre-Wimbledon media briefing. “I’m here to talk about tennis only. Please respect that.

“If you’ve any type of political questions, you possibly can ask the WTA or the event. They can ship you the transcript of my solutions from the earlier tournaments.”

Sabalenka refused to attend two post-match press conferences in Paris, claiming she did not feel “secure” in the environment. When she eventually resumed media duties, she insisted that she did not support either the ongoing war in Ukraine or Lukashenko.

Asked if she had come under pressure to make her opening statement on Saturday, she insisted “it is my private choice”.

Sabalenka, along with all Belarusian and Russian players, were banned from Wimbledon in 2022 because of the conflict. This year the suspension has been lifted but they all must sign declarations of neutrality.

They must also prove they are not backed by state bodies or have financial support from companies under sanction because of the war.

“I’ve no expectations,” said Sabalenka when asked how she thought she may be received by the Wimbledon crowds.

‘Don’t have childhood’

“I solely have hope that they are going to assist me as they did within the final years – hopefully. That’s it.”

Despite her problems in Paris, Sabalenka still made the semi-finals, defeating a pair of Ukrainian rivals, Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina on the way.

Both Kostyuk and Svitolina were booed by the Roland Garros fans for their defiant gesture of refusing to shake hands with Belarusian or Russian opponents. Svitolina said Saturday that the war in Ukraine has “thrown tennis within the nation again by 10 years”.

“The listing of venues and golf equipment and sports activities destroyed by missiles it’s extremely unhappy. I can not think about when it’s going to get again to regular,” she said.

Svitolina said it was crucial, however, that the sport survives having witnessed the difference tennis makes when she last held a clinic in the country in February.

“Seeing the youngsters play tennis, it was like a spark of magic,” said the 28-year-old. “They have been so intense with the struggle and their mother and father not there 100% of the time. They do not actually have a childhood. We tried to offer them the sunshine to maintain dreaming.”

Svitolina said she feels no bitterness towards the All England Club after they decided to lift their ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

“They had to decide on. There was stress there, they did not need to lose a Slam event however we’re nonetheless grateful that they banned them final yr. It’s what we fought for,” added Svitolina, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2019.

The world number 75 starts her campaign on Centre Court on Monday against five-time winner Venus Williams. Sabalenka made the semi-finals at Wimbledon on her last appearance in 2021, losing a tough three-setter against Karolina Pliskova.

With world number one Iga Swiatek having yet to get beyond the last 16 and defending champion Elena Rybakina struggling to recover from a virus, Sabalenka is widely regarded as a champion-in-waiting. “I’m fairly certain if I convey my finest tennis that I can do very well at Wimbledon,” she said.