WTA Responds to Swiatek & Tsurenko Criticism Over Russian Players
WTAFriday, 17 March 2023 at 12:00
Updated at Wednesday, 25 December 2024 at 12:41
WTA CEO Steve Simon responded to the comments made by Iga Swiatek and Lesia Tsurenko after an incident related to Anastasia Potapova.
The Russian player was seen wearing a Spartak Moscow shirt at Indian Wells, which angered many Ukrainian players, and even some, like the World No. 1 player, spoke out. Swiatek suggested that there might need to be more firm guidelines to prevent similar incidents.
Steve Simon, who is the CEO of the WTA, now addressed those comments, claiming that the association is trying to help the Ukrainian players. In a statement made for BBC, Simon condemned the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian government.
"We continue to do as much as we have the ability to do. We have done a lot for our athletes, I know there's a variety of opinions on that out there. What's going on in Ukraine is reprehensible. You can't support it any way - nor what the Russian government is doing."
Simon also addressed the specific incident that involved Potapova. The WTA has already warned Potapova, and Simon is confident that similar incidents won't happen in the future.
"We spoke with Anastasia directly and also have given her a warning so she knows that this was not appropriate and I don't think we will see any further instances of this going forward."
Simon is in a challenging position, with players from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus all competing on the WTA Tour. That's why he's always trying to explain the sensitivity of the topic for all parties involved.
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"Our sympathies are at the highest level with everybody in Ukraine and I don't think any of us can properly understand what they are going through. I don't think that any of this is lessening what's going on over there."
"We continue to speak with [Russian and Belarusian players] and make sure they understand about the sensitivities here and that they are competing as neutral athletes. I think there is a strong understanding on that."
"We've always had the position - and it's been a fundamental position of the tour - that every player that is eligible should be allowed to play. And this is irrespective to decisions that may have been made by local governments. We've been consistent with that and we are going to stay consistent with that. We think that the neutral approach is appropriate."
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