I thought you were the guy that didn't think there ought to be politics in sports, and it sounds like Aryna was tired of being asked about the war.
I think there’s times when politics can’t help but be caught up in sport. I applauded the WTA for their China stance, for example, and I said it was a huge pity that nobody stood behind Shahar Peer when she was denied entry into Dubai. If Sabalenka was ‘tired of being asked about the war’, then how did this translate itself into a bizarre claim that she felt unsafe? And unsafe from what? Then she accepted that the accredited press should be banned from questioning her, so she got only boring questions that served her ego? This in itself is an example of her bringing politics into sport, while pretending to be offended by that.
WTA position China is an official one, and not the same as a player taking an individual stance on a political issue. I'm just pointing out the inconsistency in your position, because a player chooses NOT to be dragged into stating opinions on political issues. You just don't like the excuse she came up with. But you should have some respect on her preferring not to be forced to offer a stance or make statements, giving what you've said about such things, even this week.
There’s no inconsistency in my position, and remember, in my original post about this, my question was about why she said she felt unsafe. But if I was totally against politics in sports, then an expression such as “WTA position China is an official one, and not the same as a player taking an individual stance on a political issue” would be meaningless, because you can’t be totally against something, conditionally.
It was Venus who stood up for Shahar when they didn't want her at the Dubai event.Vee has always been a champion for the underdog.
I know she condemned the decision, and she was right to, but both tours should have cancelled the event and said we won’t put up with this. I wish players had withdrawn in support with Peer. But Venus is a good person, and a player I like..
She is now mixing it up in the second set.I am pleasantly surprised by Muchova.
I'm not surprised, but her play today is quite pleasant. I said she had to play exceptional to win and she has done that.
Okay.. Here's my problem with players like Keys, Mrs. Monfils and all the higher ranked players.. Why cant they produce tennis like this against Sabalenka because Muchova isnt a better player than they are and they all have more experience. (excluding Sloane because she came to play and stands up to Saba everytime).
It's pretty simple. Players with a lot of variety have multiple ways to win points. They're not afraid or limited when their opponent throws a poisonous dart. Keys is only interested in ball bashing. How many mindless ball bashers have been successful greats on the WTA? Svito isn't a ball basher, but doesn't have the necessary kill shots to put opponents away. Nothing she can't be taught, but again it's playing style. She has to want to develop that one shot and then spend the necessary time doing it.
