Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, once again finds herself at the center of controversy just weeks after what happened at the Australian Open, all because of a commercial move to expand her personal brand that has turned into a media firestorm.
Sabalenka confirmed a partnership with a Russian rapper who openly supports the invasion of Ukraine. This collaboration has sparked a wave of outrage among fans, who are questioning the athlete’s ethics at a moment of extreme geopolitical sensitivity.
The controversy erupted on social media, especially on X, where tennis followers were quick to identify the artist and recall his history of support for the Kremlin. The criticism has been fierce, pointing to what many describe as a complete disconnect between Sabalenka and the reality of the conflict.
“It’s incredible that, after everything that has been said about athletes’ neutrality, Sabalenka chooses to work with someone who actively celebrates violence,” one user wrote in a post that reached thousands of interactions.
Other fans went further, demanding consistency from the WTA and the player’s sponsors. “You can’t say you don’t support the war one day and the next pose with someone who holds patriotic concerts to fund it. The hypocrisy is absolute,” read another widely shared criticism.
This commercial link contradicts Sabalenka’s past statements, in which she said she did not support Alexander Lukashenko’s regime or the military actions in Ukraine.
Mounting tension: The controversial “hindrance” at the Australian Open 2026
This new scandal comes just weeks after Sabalenka was involved in a high-tension moment during the semifinals of the Australian Open 2026. In her match against Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, the Belarusian was penalized with a “hindrance,” a rare rule that punishes noises or gestures that distract an opponent.
“To be honest, it had never happened to me before. Especially with my grunts. It was very strange,” Sabalenka said in a press conference after the match. Although the decision affected her momentarily, the player admitted that the incident fueled her competitiveness: “It really annoyed me. And that helped me a lot to win the match. I became more aggressive.”
However, for the tennis community, this on-court incident – combined with her recent association with the pro-war rapper – paints a picture of constant confrontation, something that, according to some comments, does not align with the expected path of a public figure connected to the WTA.
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