Sabalenka Testifies: "On Social Media, Some People Are Unimaginably Mean"
In the face of rising hate messages in tennis, Aryna Sabalenka has decided to speak out. The world number one discusses a scourge that goes beyond sports and admits she is sometimes "shocked" by the cruelty of some internet users.
Hateful and insulting messages on social media are rampant. This week, several WTA tour players (Swiatek, Lys...) have decided to break the silence and share some examples of what they receive daily or after a loss.
A topic that is taking on an increasingly important role in the world of tennis and sports in general. During her press conference in Wuhan on Sunday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka gave her opinion on this plague:
"We all receive a huge amount of hate. Throughout my career, I have faced a lot of hate and different types of hate for different reasons. I've realized that the more attention you pay to it, the more energy it takes from you.
I think it's better to ignore it, but sometimes, out of curiosity, I see these messages and I look at the profile of the person who sent them. I am sometimes shocked. Sometimes there are mothers who send horrible things.
In other cases, it's a person who spends their time criticizing those who have a goal in life, those who try to motivate and inspire the next generations.
I often take these messages as a joke. They make comments without ever having put themselves in our shoes. I think all players should take it as a joke and never venture into that murky space that social media represents."
Wuhan 
