The WTA is confident in its legal victory against Lesia Tsurenko, a former top-25 player.
In a statement to The Athletic, the WTA asserted, “The WTA has made it clear that all athletes are treated equally, and our tournaments are open to everyone, irrespective of their nationality. Like other tennis bodies, we firmly believe that players should not be penalized for the actions of their governments.”
The statement continued, “We sympathize with Lesia Tsurenko and other Ukrainian players who are facing significant challenges. However, we are disappointed by her decision to sue us, seeking to hold us accountable for her distress. We have consistently acted according to the rules and are confident in winning this case.”
This lawsuit follows Tsurenko`s withdrawal from a match against Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells in 2023, which she attributed to a panic attack. Prior to this, Tsurenko expressed feeling `shocked` by a conversation with the then WTA chairman Steve Simon. According to Tsurenko, Simon discussed the potential return of Russian and Belarusian players to the Olympics, stating that he believed it would align with fair play and Olympic values, rather than violate them.
