Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka says she doesn’t share the same view as Iga Swiatek who recently called for the WTA to do more to support Ukrainian players on the Tour.
During last week’s Indian Wells tournament, the women’s world No.1 told reporters that there should be more attention placed on supporting players from the war-affected country and less on the debate on if Russian players should be suspended from the sport. Something that the ATP and WTA are strongly against.
Recently Russian player Anastasia Potapova was spoken to by officials and criticized by Swiatek for walking onto the court for a match wearing a Russian football shirt. Although at the time it appeared that there was no actual policy in place that said she couldn’t do such a thing.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of a match due to a panic attack which she had linked to a meeting with WTA CEO Steve Simon who suggested that she shouldn’t be upset if some players support the war against her country as they are entitled to their views. Simon, who has stated his opposition to the Russian invasion, also said it was likely that Russia would be allowed to compete at the Olympics despite calls for their removal.
“I totally understand why she withdrew, because honestly I respect Ukrainian girls so much. If a bomb landed in my country or if my home was destroyed, I don’t know if I could handle that and compete,” Swiatek recently commented on Tsurenko’s withdrawal.
“You have to really mentally be there to compete every week. So I get that she wasn’t ready to do that.
“I feel more should be done to help Ukrainian players because everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players, if they should be allowed, what’s going on with them.
“I don’t think that’s right, because we should focus more on helping Ukrainian players and providing them everything they need because they basically have to take care of all their families, and there’s a lot of baggage on their shoulders.”
However, WTA Council member Azarenka has a somewhat different view from Swiatek. The former world No.1 was unable to play at Wimbledon last year due to a ban on Belarussian players. Although The All England Club will likely perform a U-turn on the policy this year due to pressure from tennis’ governing bodies. The government of Belarus is accused of supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Obviously, there are certain players that have different feelings and behaviours. Overall, I don’t necessarily share the same opinion as Iga does. I would encourage her to look at the things that have been done before she makes comments,” Azarenka told reporters on Monday in Miami.
“Obviously, as a player council (member), I am happy to provide all those facts that have been done. And I think that would be a more appropriate way to have that conversation,” she added.
In recent months there has been high tension between some players on the Tour due to the ongoing conflict. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports that there have been 22,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including more than 8000 deaths.
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka says ‘she has never felt so much hate’ in recent times due to the war. The world No.2 says there has been a tense atmosphere in the locker rooms at times but hopes this tension will eventually ease.
“I was really struggling with that because I really felt bad, like I did something and it’s still not so good in the locker room with some of the Ukrainian girls. But then I realised that it’s not my fault and I did nothing bad to them. And I’m pretty sure that the rest of the Russian and Belarusian athletes did nothing to Ukrainians,” she said.
“I just realised that this is all emotions and I just need to like ignore it and focus on myself with understanding that I did nothing bad. And I cannot control emotions of others.”
“It seems like, everyone’s just ignoring each other.”
Russian and Belarussian players are currently only allowed to participate on the Tour as neutral athletes. However, they are currently suspended from team events.
