US judge dismisses lawsuit by Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko against WTA over distress linked to war
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Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko said a “panic attack” caused her to withdraw from a match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at a 2023 tournament in Indian Wells.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- US judge dismissed Lesia Tsurenko's lawsuit against the WTA alleging mental abuse over handling of Russian and Belarusian players after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Judge Buchwald stated the WTA is best suited to decide detrimental conduct and Tsurenko didn't prove duties to ban players or prevent emotional abuse, citing physical safety focus.
- WTA argued appropriate actions were taken, including banning players competing under Russian or Belarusian flags, stating athletes shouldn't be punished for government actions.
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NEW YORK – A US judge dismissed a lawsuit by Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko accusing the WTA Tour and former chief executive Steve Simon of inflicting mental abuse over their handling of Russian and Belarusian players following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Tsurenko, a former top-25 player, sued over the WTA’s alleged failure to uphold Simon’s promise to ban Russian and Belarusian players who supported the war, and prohibit “conduct detrimental” to the tour and the game’s integrity.
The 36-year-old cited instances where a Russian player wore a patch for a sanctioned Russian oil company, and said Simon told her it was “OK” for others to support the war.
Tsurenko said a “panic attack” caused her to withdraw from a match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, now the world’s No. 1 female player, at the 2023 BNP Paribas tournament in Indian Wells, California.
But in a decision on March 25, US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan said the WTA was best equipped to decide what qualified as detrimental conduct, and Tsurenko did not show it had duties to ban players or keep the game free from emotional abuse.
“When courts have found that sports associations owe a duty to their players, those duties relate to ensuring players’ physical safety, not their emotional wellbeing,” Buchwald wrote.
Buchwald also said the WTA employed “reasoned decision making” following the invasion, including by banning players from competing under Russia’s and Belarus’ flags.
Tsurenko sought damages for breach of contract and negligence, including the infliction of emotional distress.
Her lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on March 26.
The WTA's lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.
In seeking a dismissal, the defendants said they had consistently condemned Russia’s actions and taken significant steps to support Ukrainian players.
They also said that like many sports leagues, the WTA believed individual athletes “should not be punished because of the actions of their countries’ governments”.
Tsurenko has spoken frequently about the challenges of competing on tour since Russia’s invasion. REUTERS
