Sabalenka Expresses Concern Over 'Hate' In Locker Room

Aryna Sabalenka says she is confronted with "hate" in the locker room because of her country's role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The world number two hails from Belarus which Moscow calls a "special military operation" because the country has been a staging area for the invasion.

As a result of the strained relations between Russia and Ukraine, Sabalenka has been caught in the crossfire despite previously stating that she had nothing against Ukrainian people and felt bad for them as Moscow's action rages on.

"It was really tough for me because I've never faced that much hate in the locker room," Sabalenka said ahead of the Miami Open. 

"There are a lot of haters on Instagram when you're losing matches, but in the locker room, I've never faced that.

"It was really tough to understand that there's so many people who hate me for no reason. I did nothing."

The 24-year-old Australian Open champion went on to add that her "conversations" with some members in the locker room have been "weird" as a result of the conflict.

"I had some, not like fights, but I had some weird conversations with, not the girls, but with members of their team. 

"It was tough. It was [a] tough period. But, now it's getting better," added Sabalenka, who lost in the final of Indian Wells to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina on Sunday.