Tensions have escalated within the WTA as Ukrainian players claim their requests for a meeting with the organization's board have been met with silence.
Marta Kostyuk, the rising Ukrainian tennis star, expressed her frustration during a recent press conference following her defeat by Russian opponent, Anastasia Potapova, at the 2023 Miami Open.
The match itself was mired in controversy, as Kostyuk chose not to shake Potapova's hand after the game. The young Ukrainian's decision highlighted the emotional toll the war has taken on athletes from the affected countries.
Kostyuk later revealed that her compatriot, Lesia Tsurenko, had requested a meeting with the WTA board on behalf of Ukrainian players earlier this month, following her withdrawal from Indian Wells before a match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. However, the WTA has yet to respond.
"Yes, we wanted to have the meeting with the board and we didn't get one. No reply, nothing, just silence. I mean, once we're in the meeting we can talk about it. Before the meeting I don't think it's a good idea to talk about what we want to talk about there."
"There are a lot of things that I don't agree with that WTA is doing, this not going to change anything."
Adding fuel to the fire, Potapova received a formal warning from the WTA for wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt before a match in Indian Wells. Kostyuk expressed her dissatisfaction with this response, stating that the WTA's actions were inadequate and suggesting that harsher penalties could have been imposed.
"I'll just get more hate online. Whatever I say, I will get a lot of hate. I don't know. Warning, whatever. You give her a warning.... You can suspend someone, I don't know. I can't comment on that really, it's just funny."
The WTA's silence on the matter has drawn widespread criticism, as the organization's inaction raises questions about its commitment to player welfare and addressing conflict-related issues within the sport. The lack of dialogue has left players like Kostyuk feeling unsupported and disillusioned, exacerbating tensions between athletes from the two warring nations.
The tennis community is now waiting for the WTA to take decisive action and engage in meaningful conversations with the Ukrainian players, as ignoring their pleas will only serve to deepen the divide in an already fractured sport.
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