Ukrainian businessman Yuri Sapronov has dismissed claims made by the tournament director of the Moscow Open that Elina Svitolina skipped the event due to political reasons.
Earlier this week Moscow River Cup director, Alexander Ostrovsky, said the world No.5 missed the ever due to ‘well-known reasons of a political nature.’ Russia and Ukraine is currently in a dispute over the region of Crimea as well as other topics. In 2014 the Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in a move that sparked international condemnation. The territory is still under Russian control, but both the UK and United States maintain that it is an illegal occupation.
“We had an agreement signed with her, but some time ago. Elina and her team unfortunately decided not to go to Russia for the well-known reasons of a political nature,” Ostrovsky was quoted by sport.ua as saying.
Less than 24 hours after the allegation, Sapronov has hit back on behalf of Svitolina. Insisting her decision not to play was purely due to her scheduling commitments. Sapronov has played a big part in the development of the Ukrainian player. When she was 11 Svitolina moved to train in Kharkiv, where she was sponsored by him. The two have since maintained a close partnership. Sapronov has also sponsored other Ukrainian players in the past, including both of the Bondarenko sisters.
“Elina decided not to play. I agree with her decision. But, more importantly, it’s a professional reason.” Said Sapronov.
“Suppose Svitolina played a tournament in Moscow, which ends on July 29. From July 30 begins the most important series of tournaments in Canada and the US on hard. August 6 Svitolina will defend her title in Montreal.
“The transition from clay to hard is 8-10 days plus acclimatization and a ten-hour difference.”
The last time Svitolina played in Russia was at the 2016 Moscow Open. In total she only played four professional tournaments in the country throughout her entire career. She is yet to make any comment about the allegations made by Ostrovsky.
So far this season, Svitolina has won three WTA titles in Brisbane, Dubai and Rome. Her win-loss record for 2018 currently stands at 29-9.