Anastasia Potapova given formal warning by WTA over 'not acceptable' Spartak Moscow shirt at Indian Wells

The WTA has issued a formal warning to Anastasia Potapova after she wore a Spartak Moscow football shirt before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells this week. Russian Potapova said afterwards she had supported Spartak Moscow since she was 13 and didn’t see any provocation in it. Ad But world No.

1 Iga Swiatek said she was “surprised” and had talked to the WTA. WTA Indian Wells'One of best comebacks of my life' — Sakkari beats Kvitova to reach semisAN HOUR AGO Swiatek also called for “better leadership” from women’s tennis' governing body. The WTA has said in a statement: “Regarding the Russian soccer team shirt, the WTA has formally warned the player that this was not acceptable nor an appropriate action.

«We do not expect to see any reoccurrence of this in the future.» Russian and Belarusian players have been permitted to play on the WTA Tour without their country’s flag since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago. But Swiatek revealed there is “a lot of tension" in the locker room at the moment. Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko said she withdrew from her Indian Wells match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka this week after a panic attack following a discussion with WTA chief executive Steve Simon.

Swiatek calls for more support for Ukrainian players Sabelenka beats Gauff to reach Indian Wells semi-finals Tsurenko told Big Tennis Ukraine she was “shocked” by Simon’s answers about tennis’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The WTA responded with a statement. Russian Daniil Medvedev was asked about the pressure on Ukrainian players following his quarter-final win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.