Tennis Player Tsurenko Urges Ukrainians To Beat Russians 'On Any Field'

Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko says she and her compatriots' only resort is to beat their Russian and Belarusian rivals "on any field" as she is resigned to sports organisations not taking tougher action. Russian and Belarusian players have been competing on both the ATP and WTA tours under a neutral flag since Vladimir Putin launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with the assistance of Belarus.

Tsurenko, 33, told AFP in an interview she was feeling "big stress" as she waits to see if she is drawn against a Russian or Belarusian in the French Open which starts on Sunday.

However, she also sounded a defiant note.

"My message for the French Open is it is like what I said about other sports - we just have to go and beat them on any field," she said.

"There is no sense for Ukrainian sportsmen to give up. What sort of message does that give?

"In tennis we tried so many things to ban them and the tennis organisations do not want to listen to us."

Tsurenko is frustrated by the lack of support, even in private, she and her fellow Ukrainians have received from Russian and Belarusian rivals even though some "used to be very good friends".

"Just one person spoke directly to me the first day of the war," she said.

"That person told me with tears in their eyes that everything going on is so terrible.

"Now no more players talk to me. I do not have much sympathy for any of them. I can just say if they suffer we suffer much more.

"There are many ways that you can help in these cases. You can change citizenship or move your family if you are afraid.

"I honestly do not think they want to speak out because those who support the war will be revealed."

- 'Using my name' - Tsurenko -- ranked 63 in the world having