Tennis fans rallied behind Aryna Sabalenka following a heated exchange with a Ukrainian journalist after her 7-5, 6-2 win over Iryna Shymanovich to advance to the third round at the 2023 French Open.During her post-match press conference, Sabalenka was confronted by a Ukrainian journalist and asked about her support for Belarus's president Alexander Lukashenko. The journalist labeled Lukashenko a "dictator" and reminded Sabalenka of her previous New Year's celebration with him, despite his regime's ongoing religious persecution of protestants.Sabalenka refused to comment, saying:"I have no comments to you, so thank you for your question."The journalist's insistence that the World No. 2 publicly denounce Belarus for its involvement in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, elicited a similar response."I have no comments for you," Aryna Sabalenka replied.After the journalist pressed her for a response, the moderator stepped in and stopped the line of questioning.Several tennis fans expressed concerns about the pressure on Sabalenka to make a statement against a dictator, emphasizing that openly criticizing him in the media could have negative consequences for her and her family."You will all push and push and push her to make a statement, but you realize talking openly against a dictator and humiliating him in the media will not end well for her yes ? And her family, yes?" a fan tweeted.#2inParis@rowakinaYou will all push and push and push her to make a statement, but you realize talking openly against a dictator and humiliating him in the media will not end well for her yes ? And her family, yes ? twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:37337Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0CuysmYou will all push and push and push her to make a statement, but you realize talking openly against a dictator and humiliating him in the media will not end well for her yes ? And her family, yes ? twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…"You know I am an anonymous tt account, still I hesitate to criticize the autocrat of my own country, so she might try to keep herself and her family safe. Incredible people still not eager to understand that," another fan commented.DenizTheTennis@denizthetenisYou know I am an anonymous tt account, still I hesitate to criticize the autocrat of my own country, so she might try to keep herself and her family safe. Incredible people still not eager to understand that. twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:726Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0CuysmYou know I am an anonymous tt account, still I hesitate to criticize the autocrat of my own country, so she might try to keep herself and her family safe. Incredible people still not eager to understand that. twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Other fans called out the "harassment" the World No. 2 was continuing to be subjected to."Aryna has been asked this question 100 times already. At some point it is simply harassment," a fan posted.G3856@Goalie301@molly_mcelwee @christophclarey Aryna has been asked this question 100 times already. At some point it is simply harassment145@molly_mcelwee @christophclarey Aryna has been asked this question 100 times already. At some point it is simply harassment"At this point you are letting angry people throw accusations at tennis players, These aren’t even proper questions. I understand the anger of the Ukrainian journalist but I also understand that sabalenka would potentially be putting herself into a a dangerous position," another fan chimed in.Halep THEE dop£r@SpllomiAt this point you are letting angry people throw accusations at tennis players, These aren’t even proper questions. I understand the anger of the Ukrainian journalist but I also understand that sabalenka would potentially be putting herself into a a dangerous position twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:322Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0CuysmAt this point you are letting angry people throw accusations at tennis players, These aren’t even proper questions. I understand the anger of the Ukrainian journalist but I also understand that sabalenka would potentially be putting herself into a a dangerous position twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Here are some more fan reactions:LorenaPopa 🕵️‍♀️🎾@popalorenaNext thing she'll be asked to say will be "I, Aryna Sabalenka will stop the war" twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:19213Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0CuysmNext thing she'll be asked to say will be "I, Aryna Sabalenka will stop the war" twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…mar 😌@vamosandreyyystop harassing her omfg this is getting ridiculous twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:14128Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0Cuysmstop harassing her omfg this is getting ridiculous twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…what's the craic?@whatsthecraic1@molly_mcelwee Why do they keep asking players these questions, they are under no obligation to entertain these types of questions. She is there to speak about her tennis, stop using it for your own agenda. I hope they get their press pass revoked833@molly_mcelwee Why do they keep asking players these questions, they are under no obligation to entertain these types of questions. She is there to speak about her tennis, stop using it for your own agenda. I hope they get their press pass revokedIjaz Uddin@uddinbijaz97@molly_mcelwee Tbf, good on her for not providing much away to that journalist because at the end of the day, she’s a tennis player, not a politician or an army solider. 🤷‍♂️821@molly_mcelwee Tbf, good on her for not providing much away to that journalist because at the end of the day, she’s a tennis player, not a politician or an army solider. 🤷‍♂️Ashudeep Suri@AshudeepSuri@molly_mcelwee This is heckling! Not journalism.114@molly_mcelwee This is heckling! Not journalism.student @ Mouratyahoo Academy@freeyahooplz@molly_mcelwee Didn’t she literally say no one supports the war a day ago?27@molly_mcelwee Didn’t she literally say no one supports the war a day ago?Manish Kori@Sportshub500@molly_mcelwee This is going overboard now.57@molly_mcelwee This is going overboard now.BB Fanatic || standingwitholya&chiara@bblegend21what the hell is going on here?! this is becoming a witch hunt twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:23128Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0Cuysmwhat the hell is going on here?! this is becoming a witch hunt twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Marcel@FindngtimeagainAsking questions is one thing, but this is very aggressive and hectoring. It's reasonable to ask "do you support the war?", but "please denounce the war in these specific terms" seems massively inappropriate to me. twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:4128Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0CuysmAsking questions is one thing, but this is very aggressive and hectoring. It's reasonable to ask "do you support the war?", but "please denounce the war in these specific terms" seems massively inappropriate to me. twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…hideousflops | muchová’s no.1 hater@noviademuchovado you know what it's like living in a dictatorship? i know. you think you care about the people who suffer but no you don't. what they did in some occasion is nothing admirable but there's not much choice. i wish we can all be strong enough to stand up against dictators but damn twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Molly McElwee@molly_mcelweeTense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko:191Tense exchange at Aryna Sabalenka's press conference, when a Ukrainian journalist asked her a pointed question about her previous support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko: https://t.co/dHJK0Cuysmdo you know what it's like living in a dictatorship? i know. you think you care about the people who suffer but no you don't. what they did in some occasion is nothing admirable but there's not much choice. i wish we can all be strong enough to stand up against dictators but damn twitter.com/molly_mcelwee/…Aryna Sabalenka will take on Kamilla Rakhimova in French Open 3R clashAryna Sabalenka through to the third round at the 2023 French OpenAryna Sabalenka's win over Iryna Shymanovich propelled her to the third round of the French Open for the fourth consecutive year. However, unlike her success in reaching the semifinals or better at the other three Grand Slams, she has yet to progress beyond the third round at the claycourt major.Sabalenka will be up against Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round. Rakhimova defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) to book her spot against the second seed.As the third-round clash will mark their first-ever meeting on the tour, Aryna Sabalenka and Kamilla Rakhimova's head-to-head record currently stands at 0-0.