Ukrainian participant Lesia Tsurenko has mentioned she withdrew from the Indian Wells event after having a panic assault following a dialogue with WTA chief govt Steve Simon.
Tsurenko had been as a result of face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka within the third spherical on Sunday however handed the Australian Open champion a walkover.
The withdrawal was attributed to private causes however Tsurenko has now revealed it got here as a result of she was “absolutely shocked” by Simon’s solutions of their dialogue about tennis’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
She mentioned she and fellow Ukrainian gamers at the moment are questioning the place of Simon, who additionally mentioned Russians and Belarusians can be allowed to play on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Speaking to the Big Tennis Ukraine web site, the 33-year-old mentioned: “A few days ago, I had a conversation with our WTA CEO Steve Simon, and I was absolutely shocked by what I heard.
“He instructed me that he himself doesn’t assist the struggle, but when the gamers from Russia and Belarus assist it, then that is solely their very own opinion, and the opinion of different individuals shouldn’t 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.”
Tsurenko’s feedback got here as Wimbledon organisers seem set to elevate their ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers, with the International Olympic Committee probably heading in the identical route.
Simon relayed that info to Tsurenko, who mentioned: “He expressed confidence that the Russians and Belarusians will return to the Olympics and said that it will happen exactly as it is happening now in tennis.
“He additionally mentioned that honest play and Olympic ideas weren’t violated, however quite the opposite. When requested if he understood what he was saying to me in the course of the lively section of Russia’s navy aggression in my nation he mentioned sure, and this was his opinion.
“I was completely shocked by this conversation, and already in the last match (against Donna Vekic) it was incredibly difficult to play. When it was time to go to the court, I had a panic attack and I simply could not go out there. I just broke down mentally, to be honest.”
Tsurenko added that she and her fellow Ukrainian gamers who she instructed concerning the dialog at the moment are questioning Simon’s place.
“Everyone is also shocked,” she mentioned. “We asked to organise 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.
“How can we perceive additional that our organisation one way or the other protects our rights. I simply do not perceive the way it occurred on this world that such issues have to be defined. It may be very shocking and really painful.”
The WTA has been approached for remark.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
