French Open: Sabalenka shrugs off ‘hate’ and jeers to make second round | Tennis News – Times of India

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka comfortably secured her spot in the second round of the French Open on Sunday with a straight sets victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. However, the match was overshadowed by the ongoing sporting fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading to a tense atmosphere at Roland Garros.
Ahead of their encounter, Sabalenka acknowledged the possibility that Kostyuk might harbour negative sentiments towards a player from Belarus, given Belarus’ military alliance with Russia. Despite the tensions, the 25-year-old Belarusian remained composed on Court Philippe Chatrier, ultimately prevailing with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win.

At the conclusion of the match, Kostyuk promptly walked past her opponent and headed straight to her chair, disregarding the customary handshake. Sabalenka, on the other hand, responded with a theatrical bow towards the sparse crowd, triggering a chorus of jeers reverberating throughout the stadium.
Reflecting on the emotionally challenging match, Sabalenka acknowledged her initial perception that the crowd was against her but later expressed gratitude for the support she felt. The Australian Open champion now has the opportunity to dethrone Iga Swiatek and claim the coveted world number one spot at Roland Garros.

Marta Kostyuk walks past Aryna Sabalenka after their match. (Getty Images)
In contrast, 20-year-old Kostyuk has been vocal about the tennis community’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She firmly believes that empty anti-war platitudes are insufficient. Earlier this year, Kostyuk dedicated her first career WTA title to her homeland and “all the people who are fighting and dying,” following her victory over Russia’s Varvara Gracheva in Austin.
During the match against Sabalenka, Kostyuk displayed early resilience by taking a 3-2 lead with a crucial break. Nevertheless, Sabalenka’s power game surged back to the forefront, as she stormed through the next four games to claim the opening set. In the second set, the Australian Open champion broke Kostyuk’s serve in the opening game and consolidated her advantage with a hold to take a 2-0 lead. From there, Kostyuk found it difficult to mount a comeback, ultimately sealing Sabalenka’s victory.

Looking ahead, Sabalenka’s next challenge in the French Open will be against either compatriot Iryna Shymanovich or Hungary’s Panna Udvardy in the second round. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Sabalenka as she aims to make a deeper run in Paris and potentially claim the top-ranking in women’s tennis.
(With inputs from AFP)