Ukraine War: Ukrainian players take WTA to task
Numerous Ukrainian tennis players - including Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko - contacted the WTA via social media on Monday. The players demand a reaction from the players' association.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Mar 01, 2022, 07:10 am
The Ukraine war does not stop at sport either. Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev on the men's side repeatedly appeal for peace, on the women's side the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina - in both social and traditional media - is the leader in condemning Russia's military aggression against the 45 million state in the east Europe.
Now Svitolina's compatriots have also spoken out urgently via social media. In a letter to the WTA, Marta Kostyuk, Lesia Tsurenko and Co demand an immediate reaction from the players' association. "We Ukrainian tennis players would like to express our great surprise and dissatisfaction at the lack of any response to the situation in our motherland. It is particularly strange that in previous cases of social injustice and harassment, the WTA has responded promptly, appropriately and courageously," can be read on social media.
IOC takes tough action
"Our country, Ukraine, is being brutally attacked by a superior nuclear power. The bombs and missiles are falling into our homes, killing our people and destroying our lives. We call on the WTA to immediately condemn the Russian government, all tournaments from Russia and ask the ITF to do the same," the Ukrainian players said. At the same time, however, they support all Russian-speaking tennis players because they know "that the attacks were carried out without their knowledge and involvement."
In addition, one is convinced that the rules of the IOC should also apply in international tennis, according to which Russian players are not allowed to start with Russian jerseys. The Ukrainian players did not initially react to the decision of the International Olympic Committee to recommend to all member organizations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the competitions.
Svitolina moves out of Monterrey
At the end of the statement, Kostyuk and Co then make an appeal to the entire international sports community as well as to Russia. "Stop the war. Stop Russian aggression. Bring peace to our homes. Be HUMAN", it reads. Dayana Yastresmka and sister Ivanna Yastremska also made a statement on the tennis court, stepping onto the court with a Ukrainian flag when they competed in the doubles competition in Lyon.
However, Elina Svitolina has announced that she will not start at the WTA 250 event in Monterrey and will not play a match against a player from Russia or Belarus as long as the WTA, ATP and ITF do not react to the current situation . Also the world number 15. demands that players from the two countries may only start as neutral athletes in the future.