Her Country Became The Site Of The Russian Invasion, Beautiful Belarusian Tennis Player Sabalenka Is Ready To Wear A Ukrainian Ribbon

JAKARTA - Support for the Ukrainian people in the midst of the Russian invasion continues to flow from the tennis community. One of them from Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka called for peace amid the conflict in Ukraine that has caused tennis governing bodies and officials to remove mention of her country of origin from the Indian Wells tennis tournament.

Sabalenka, whose home country was the site of the Russian invasion, said she was willing to wear the Ukrainian ribbon.

"I feel very sad and very bad about the Ukrainians who lost their homes during the war," Sabalenka said.

"I was really worried about that, but unfortunately it's not under my control."

"I only wish peace," he added.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in the biggest offensive in Europe since 1945. Russia called the action a "special military operation."

In line with Sabalenka, Russian Daniil Medvedev also hopes for peace ahead of the ATP's first round in the Southern California desert.

"My message has always been the same - I want peace around the world," said world number one Medvedev.

"I think every tennis player would say the same thing."

Former world number one Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray have pledged to provide relief funds for children affected by the invasion.

Two million people - mostly women and children - have now left Ukraine.

Poland's Iga Swiatek encouraged people to support humanitarian organizations and said he was proud that his country accepted Ukrainian refugees.

Swiatek will wear a small ribbon in the colors of the Ukrainian flag when he competes in the tournament and hopes others can do the same.

"If other players feel they can support Ukraine with this symbolic gesture, we prepared more of these streamers and can give you some," he said in a Twitter post.

While Russia and Belarus will not appear with their national symbols on, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska, who fled the invasion with her sister, competed Wednesday night local time (CST) wearing her country's blue and yellow flag.

Yastremska, who has won three WTA titles, pledged to donate her prize money when she reached the final of the Lyon Open last weekend to Ukraine's relief efforts.