- Ex-champion wondered whether the tournament is environmentally oriented
- Victoria Azarenka pointed out the large volume of plastic products for sale
- Asked reporters if the focus on the environment was ‘smoke and mirrors’
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka has criticized the Australian Open for being hypocritical when it comes to the tournament’s eco-friendly pledge.
Azarenka – who won the women’s singles titles at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013 – pointed out at her post-match press conference on Tuesday that a number of plastic products are still being sold to fans streaming through the gates.
It comes despite the Open partnership with Australian start-up Samsara in 2022 in a bid to recycle thousands of plastic bottles during the two-week event.
At the time, the partnership was hailed as innovative, as Samsara’s recycling process is carbon neutral, environmentally friendly and streamlined.
The continued presence of plastic in several parts of Melbourne Park was a clear source of irritation for Azarenka, a former world No. 1 when she was at her peak.
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka has criticized the Australian Open for what she sees as hypocritical when it comes to the tournament’s promise to be environmentally sustainable
Speaking after her opening round win against Italy’s Camila Giorgi, the 18th seed highlighted the high volume of plastic products on sale at Melbourne Park
Azarenka will play Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Thursday for a place in the third round
She expressed her confusion to a group of reporters after her first-round match against Italy’s Camila Giorgi on Tuesday.
“We have water bottles that are recyclable, but we have plastic everywhere around (the venue). What are we even doing?’ Azarenka asked.
“I want to make sure we’re doing something that’s important. But it looks like – what is that phrase – smoke and mirrors? You can say it?
‘I do not like that. If we’re going to do something important, like try to be sustainable, okay, let’s actually do it.
“But if you look at all the things around the venue, we have (things like) individual chocolate wrappers all over the stadium.
“What are we even doing?”
Azarenka – the 18th seed – will play Denmark’s Clara Tauson on Thursday for a place in the third round.