Iga Swiatek: World No.1 requires extra assist for Ukrainian tennis gamers
CNN
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World No.1 Iga Świątek has known as for extra assist for Ukrainian gamers from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), including that “everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players.”
Świątek’s feedback on Tuesday comply with incidents on the Indian Wells event, the place Russia’s Anastasia Potapova wore a Spartak Moscow soccer jersey, and Ukrainian participant Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of the event this week.
Tsurenko had been as a consequence of play in opposition to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka however didn’t find yourself taking to the courtroom Monday, with Reuters information company reporting that organizers mentioned that the Ukrainian had withdrawn for private causes.
When requested about Tsurenko at her post-match press convention, the 21-year-old Polish star Świątek mentioned: “I totally understand why she withdrew, because honestly I respect the Ukrainian girls so much, because if like a bomb landed in my country or if my home was destroyed, I don’t know if I could handle that.”
As of March 12, no less than 8,231 civilians have been killed and 13,734 injured in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which started 24 February final yr, in accordance with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
OHCHR says it believes that the precise figures are “considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration.”
“I feel more should be done to help Ukrainian players because everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players,” Świątek mentioned Tuesday.
Świątek was additionally vital of the WTA’s management after Russian Potapova entered the courtroom Sunday sporting a Spartak Moscow soccer shirt forward of her match in opposition to American Jessica Pegula. Potopova has been pictured sporting the shirt on a number of events, together with in Dubai, in a photograph she posted to her personal Instagram account.
“It’s a tough situation,” Świątek mentioned.”There is a number of stress within the locker room that, effectively, clearly it’s going to be there, as a result of there’s a conflict.
“But maybe it should be a little bit less if the WTA put some action at the beginning to kind of explain to everybody what is right and what is not,” Świątek added.
CNN reached out to the WTA for remark following Świątek’s criticism.
Earlier on Tuesday when requested about Tsurenko’s withdrawal the WTA mentioned to CNN: “First and foremost, we acknowledge the feelings Lesia and all of our Ukrainian athletes have and proceed to handle throughout this very tough time period.
“We are witnessing an ongoing horrific conflict that continues to carry unexpected circumstances with far reaching penalties which can be affecting the world, in addition to the worldwide WTA Tour and its members.
“The WTA has constantly mirrored our full assist for Ukraine and strongly condemn the actions which were introduced forth by the Russian Government.
“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 penalized due to the decisions made by the leadership of their country,” the WTA assertion added.
Three-time grand slam winner Świątek continued her spectacular type on Wednesday, reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells after defeating Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-1.
On Tuesday, Świątek beat 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in straight units.