Tennis: Ukraine’s Tsurenko says she suffered panic attack after chat with WTA chief
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Lesia Tsurenko said the reason behind her panic attack was a conversation about tennis’ response to Russia’s invasion.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
INDIAN WELLS – Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko said she withdrew from her third-round match at Indian Wells, because of a panic attack after a chat with the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) chief executive regarding the Russian invasion.
Tsurenko, who beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 last Friday, pulled out of the tournament shortly before her match against Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, citing personal reasons, organisers said.
“The reason for the withdrawal was a panic attack,” she later told the Big Tennis Ukraine website on Monday. “Officially it will be written ‘personal reasons’.
“But in fact it is breathing problems and, one might say, hysteria.”
The 33-year-old said the reason behind her panic attack was a conversation she had days earlier with WTA boss Steve Simon about tennis’ response to the war.
“I was absolutely shocked by what I heard,” the world No. 95 said. “He told me that he himself does not support the war.
“But if the players from Russia and Belarus (do), then this is only their own opinion, and the opinion of other people should not upset me.
“At the same time, he noted that if this had happened to him and he had been in my place, he would have felt terrible.”
More than a year after Russia – backed by ally Belarus – invaded Ukraine, tennis continues to grapple with the war’s effects on the sport.
Russian and Belarusian players are barred from competing under their national flags by both the WTA and ATP, but Ukrainian players can still find themselves facing them at tournaments.
In March, British media reported that the ban imposed by Wimbledon on Russian and Belarusian players in 2022 would likely be lifted for the 2023 tournament.
Responding to a request for comment, the WTA said it “has consistently reflected our full support for Ukraine and strongly condemn the actions that have been brought forth by the Russian government”.
The organisation added: “With this, a fundamental principle of the WTA remains... which is ensuring that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination, and not penalised due to the decisions made by the leadership of their country.”
Tsurenko noted that Simon expressed his confidence in the Russians and Belarusians returning to the Olympics.
“When asked if he understood what he was saying to me during the active phase of Russia’s military aggression in my country, he said yes, and this was his opinion,” she said.
Tsurenko also said that Ukrainian players had requested a conference call with the WTA Board of Directors “to raise the question of how a person like Steve Simon can be a leader in the WTA and what should we do about it”.
Retired Ukrainian player and former world No. 13 Alexandr Dolgopolov was highly critical of Simon and challenged him to go public with his comments.
REUTERS, AFP