Ukrainian World No.95 Lesia Tsurenko slammed Russian World No.28 Anastasia Potapova for appearing in her Indian Wells third-round match against Jessica Pegula with a Spartak Moscow jersey. Tsurenko had earlier withdrawn from her third-round match against the eventual finalist of the tournament(finals to be played against Kazhak World No.10 Elena Rybakina) – Russian World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka citing a panic attack as the reason due to the stress of the Russian war.
As Tsurenko said by quoting WTA chief Steve Simon’s name, “Steve Simon believes tennis players can support the invasion of Russia and not be penalized. This hurt me, because I felt abandoned. What Anastasia Potapova did the other day is proof that understands the horror of war.”
Tsurenko also praised Iga Swiatek for her support of the Ukrainian players. Calling her the World No.1 in all senses, Tsurenko said, “She is a true number 1 both as a person and as a tennis player. I really appreciate all the support she is offering all of us.”
Russian war making noises in and around the WTA locker room
Just a few days after Iga Swiatek asked WTA to condemn Russian World No.28 Anastasia Potapova for appearing in the Spartak Moscow Jersey, Russian tennis federation chief Shamil Tarpischev takes a dig at the Plosh World No.1 Iga Swiatek for criticizing the same. He said, “I haven’t heard that you can’t go out in club shirts. It’s not a coat of arms or a flag.”
The Polish World No.1 has been playing with a blue and yellow ribbon in her cap ever since the Russian war in honor of the Ukrainian people. Her statements condemning WTA for not taking strict actions in support of the Ukrainian players were a reflection of that. Swiatek also admitted that the atmosphere around the WTA locker room is not so good with the talks of the Russia- Ukraine war in the air.
Neverthless, a Belarusian player has yet again moved to the finals of an important tournament this year. The World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka dispatched the Greek World No.7 Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters: 6-2, 6-2. She will face the Kazhak World No.10 Elena Rybakina in a rematch of the Australian Open 2023 final. Rybakina reached the finals after destroying Swiatek who is suffering from a rib injury: 6-2, 6-2.
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