The current situation between Russia and Ukraine affects millions of people around the world and for female tennis players, managing to continue playing despite the atrocities of war appears to be something particularly difficult… If the woman of Gaël Monfils, Elina Svitolina quickly became one of the symbols of Ukrainian resistance outside the country, for other players, the situation seems very delicate to bear. Former world No. 1 and two-time Australian Open winner, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka is one of its players that the current conflict particularly affects.
Currently present in Indian Wells in California for one of the biggest tournaments of the year, the Belarusian had expressed before the start of the tournament her state of mind on Twitter, she who says to herself “devastated” by the situation in Ukraine. “My heart is with those directly or indirectly affected by this war which is causing so much suffering and pain,” she said in particular. Obviously, the emotion was too strong to contain for the one who was in a relationship with Redfoo (LMFAO) during her match on Monday, since for no apparent reason, ehe broke down in tears after a double fault in the second set.
Victoria inconsolable for several minutes
If she did not want to specify the reason for this emotional breakdown, it may well be related to the war in Ukraine. Inconsolable, Victoria Azarenka put her hands in front of her eyes, crouched down to hide her emotion. An attitude that obviously challenged the spectators, just like her opponent of the day, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, as well as the main referee. The latter got down from her chair to ensure that the mother of little Leo was able to continue his match. “Do you need help ?”she asked him, before the tennis player apologized several times for her tears before resuming the game.