«I am not afraid to clearly state my position. I am against war and violence,» Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova said on social media.
Russia’s top-ranked female tennis player Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has become one of the most outspoken critics of her home country’s invasion into Ukraine and she’s doubling down on her stance, saying that using her voice is more important than her professional career at this time. «I’m not going to be selfish and talk about sports and my career, which is very important to me, but I think right now it’s more about our future and our life, really,» Pavlyuchenkova told CNN on Wednesday. «It’s more than a sport right now.» A number of prominent athletes from Russia have publicized their opposition to the war in Ukraine in recent days, promoting messages of peace and condemning the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pavlyuchenkova has made one of the strongest statements against the invasion, writing on social media, «personal ambitions or political motives cannot justify violence.» «I’ve been playing tennis since I was a kid, I have represented Russia all my life. This is my home and my country.
