‘We are afraid, we feel empty,’ says Elina Svitolina as she hits out at ‘useless’ WTA
The WTA has come under fresh fire for not doing enough to help Ukrainian players with Elina Svitolina saying there have been a lot of press releases but not enough action.
The tension in the WTA locker room has increased in recent weeks after Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from her match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the Indian Wells Open in March following talks with WTA CEO Steve Simon.
It later emerged that Tsurenko pulled out of the clash after suffering a “panic attack” following comments from Simon about tennis’ handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“He told me that he himself does not support the war, but if the players from Russia and Belarus support it, then this is only their own opinion, and the opinion of other people should not upset me,” she said.
Russia and Belarus players are allowed to play despite Moscow’s invasion, but they compete as neutral athletes with no flags or anthems played.
Sabalenka then revealed that she has received “hate” because of her nationality, adding there has been tension in the locker room while Simon insisted that the WTA is doing all it can to help Ukrainians.
READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka, WTA and Steve Simon slammed as tension in tennis continues to escalate
However, the comments continue to fly left, right and centre and Svitolina is the latest to criticise the WTA.
“We are afraid, we feel empty. What is happening to Lesia is very sad,” she told French sports daily l’Equipe.
“People who haven’t experienced it can’t really understand what it feels like to have no home, to feel safe nowhere, to have family in Ukraine, under the bombs, to know that Ukrainian cities are being destroyed. It’s both fear and a great emptiness.
“The WTA should have done more, much more, on many issues. Now it’s too late. There have been a lot of press releases, a lot of interviews. It was useless,” she said.
Former world No 3 Svitolina only returned to action on Monday following maternity leave and has set her sights on competing at next year’s 2024 Olympics.
There was initially talk that Russian and Belarusian athletes could be banned from the Paris Games, but the International Olympic Committee looks set to follow in Wimbledon’s footsteps and give them the green light to take part in the Olympics.
Asked about Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete, Svitolina replied: “I don’t think about it. It’s up to the Olympic Committee and the Ukrainian Committee to think about it and do their job! My job, as a player, is to get ready.”
READ MORE: WTA accused of ignoring request for meeting with Ukrainian players – ‘Just silence’
