ARYNA Sabalenka roared into the French Open fourth round yesterday but the Belarusian world number two steered clear of political questions amid the war in Ukraine by skipping her post-match press conference citing mental health reasons.
Twice champion Novak Djokovic was later given a thorough examination of his physical and mental toughness by Spanish 29th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before the Serbian pulled through with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 victory.
The 36-year-old said he was adjusting to the reality of his body behaving differently.
“Sometimes you need help from the physio during the match. Sometimes you need pills,” Djokovic said. “Sometimes you need help from God or angels. Sometimes you just have to deal with the reality.
“Reality for me nowadays is that my body is responding differently than it did a few years ago. I have to adjust to this new reality.”
Sabalenka was questioned about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and her country’s role as a staging ground for Moscow’s troops after her second-round victory earlier this week and said yesterday she did not feel safe in that press conference.
She added that her decision not to take part in the press conference was supported by the French Open organisers, who said they would not fine her, and the second seed had an interaction with a hand-picked group of reporters instead.
“I know that I have to provide answers to the media on things not related to my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday I did not feel safe in the press conference.”
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas earned safe passage into the next round with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Diego Schwartzmann that kept his hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title alive.
World number three Jessica Pegula had never beaten Elise Mertens in two previous meetings and the American’s hopes of snapping that run to remain on track for a maiden Grand Slam trophy ended in disappointment with a 6-1, 6-3 defeat.
The 29-year-old Pegula particularly struggled against the versatility of Mertens, who ran her ragged with some delightful sliced forehands, drops, lobs and deep shots to breeze through the match in 82 minutes.
Daria Kasatkina was even quicker across the finish line against another American as the ninth seed dropped only one game in her win over Peyton Stearns.
Last year’s semi-finalist Kasatkina will need to show her best form again in the next round where she will meet former world number three Elina Svitolina after the Ukrainian beat Russian Anna Blinkova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova got off to a slow start before finishing strong to down 24th seed Anastasia Potapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 to book a clash with Mertens.
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