Tennis-I don't support the war or Lukashenko, says Sabalenka

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 6, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarter final match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

PARIS (Reuters) - Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka said on Tuesday at the French Open that she did not want her country to be in any conflict and did not support the war in Ukraine, distancing herself from President Alexander Lukashenko.

The world number two did not attend her last two press conferences in Paris, citing mental health reasons after being grilled about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation", and Belarus being used as a staging ground for Russian troops.