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Tennis star Victoria Azarenka defeated Yue Yuan in her first-round matchup at Wimbledon on Monday in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and she is set to take on Nadia Podoroska in the second round Wednesday.
However, things got a little tense for Azarenka in her post-match interview. Azarenka is participating without the flag of her home country of Belarus because of the nation’s involvement in Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Azarenka was asked about her treatment from the fans in her first match.
"Just like I never left, honestly. It feels good to be playing here," she said. "For me, personally, I experienced very good treatment. ... Today, to hear people say, ‘Let’s go, Vika!’ and cheering me on was also why I play, to play in front of the crowd, to put on a good show."
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Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, plays a return to China's Yuan Yue during the first round women's singles match on day one of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Then, came the tense moment.
A reporter asked Azarenka what Wimbledon meant to Russia, according to news.au.com.
"You do know I’m not from Russia, right?" Azarenka said.
The reporter acknowledged Azarenka and followed up asking, "Just in terms of being on tour, at all, is that something that you have become aware of at all, if it’s significant?"
Azarenka replied that the reporter would have to be more direct as she was not really understanding the question. The reporter tried to clarify asking how big she saw the tournament on an international level.
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Victoria Azarenka serves in the Women's Singles first round match against Yue Yuan of China during day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2023 in London. (Shi Tang/Getty Images)
"You have obviously played in Russia in the past. How significant do you feel the tournament is?" the reporter said.
Azarenka tried to ask for more clarification asking whether the reporter meant how Wimbledon is seen on the international or what the Grand Slam event meant to her. The reporter said that they actually meant "international stage and just being on tour. It’s just a question we were asking around its impact in Russia" given that this was the first time Russian players were allowed back into the tournament since the war began.
"I think on the international stage, Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of the biggest tennis events, and it’s always been. So it’s iconic. It is iconic," she said "How it is in Russia? I’m not from Russia. I can’t really tell you how it feels in Russia."
Victoria Azarenka looks on against Yue Yuan of People's Republic of China in the Women's Singles first round match on day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2023 in London. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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Azarenka has two Grand Slam titles on her resume – back-to-back wins at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013. Her best finish at Wimbledon came in the semifinals in 2011 and 2012.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.