Aryna Sabalenka may wish it to be otherwise but there was no getting away from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Elina Svitolina and Venus Wiliams – who will play each other in round one – made it clear that even if Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to play in this year’s Championships, the topic is far from closed.
As the highest-ranked Belarusian (or Russian) player, Sabalenka, the world No 2, has been asked more questions than most about her feelings toward the war and her country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko.
