The war in Ukraine has cast a shadow on the upcoming Olympics, leading to sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus. With the IOC outlining restrictions for athletes from Russia and Belarus, Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian star, remains tight-lipped about her intentions. Will she join the Games under a neutral flag? Or will her absence add another layer of complexity to these already controversial Olympics?

The 26-year-old tennis player is enjoying a successful tennis season till now, having won this year’s Australian Open, followed by making it to the finals in Madrid and Rome. While she is currently ready to give her best at the French Open, after her first-round victory, she was asked whether she would be seen participating in the Olympics or not.

Rather than giving a direct answer, the world number two, kept the question in turmoil, making her current Paris plans steady. Saba said, “It’s way far to go, you know like now we’re in Roland Garros, and it’s another it’s couple months from now. So, I want to focus on Paris and then focus on the Olympics.”

Apparently, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was backed by Belarus, in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from partaking in international athletic events. The IOC did, however, declare in January 2023 that it would permit these athletes to compete as neutrals, in the same way as Belarusian and Russian tennis players compete in ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam competitions without disclosing their country.

On the other hand, a few months ago, when the confirmation of neutral athletes was released by the Tennis Federation, Sabalenka talked about how she is looking forward to being a part of the prestigious event. “It’s a tough schedule and everything is super tight and super close. It’s just crazy, we like, go clay, grass, back on clay, I don’t know if it’s safe for the body. I’m super happy to play Olympics and hopefully, physically, mentally, I’ll be ready to compete there,” Saba explained.

Not only that, Veronika Kudermetova, a Russian tennis player, talked about being uncertain about her Olympic participation as well.

Olympic participation for Russian players remains in limbo

The question of Russian athlete participation in the Olympics remains complex, with some athletes like 27-year-old Veronika Kudermetova on the fence. Kudermetova, currently preparing for the Roland Garros Grand Slam in Paris, has previously hinted at the possibility of skipping the Olympics. In an interview with Sports.ru journalists, the 27-year-old WTA player said, “The Olympics seem close, but it’s still too early to predict. For us, athletes from Russia, everything is unclear. Surely everyone desires it, but no one knows what will ultimately happen.”

She did, however, add that things might change following the French Open because she is still hoping to compete. She emphasized that she would only compete if athletes from Belarus and Russia were not separated from the other competitors and that her participation also depends on how these athletes are treated throughout the Olympics.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the Belarusian and Russian tennis players’ participation in the Olympics? Do let us know in the comment section below.