Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko laments lack of support for her home country in her sport

PARIS — Words such as «invasion» and «politics,» «ban» and «boycott,» are suddenly a part of the daily discourse in tennis, as in many segments of society, really, and for Ukrainian pro player Lesia Tsurenko, these are not abstract concepts.

Her country is under attack from Russia. It weighs on her constantly.

Taking the court to try to do her job, to try to swing a racket better than the woman across the net on any given day, is really the least of her concerns. And after losing to No. 1-seeded Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-0 on Monday in the French Open's first round, Tsurenko described what she finds as disconcerting as anything: a lack of colleagues who have spoken out publicly about Russia's invasion or approached her to express sympathy or even simply discuss what is happening in Ukraine.

«For me, personally, it's tough to be here,» Tsurenko said, «just because I don't get much words said about the support of my country. And it's just tough to be with people who look like they don't understand. It's just tough.… I'm Ukrainian, and there's a war in my country, and it's tough. I think five players spoke to me. Maybe four or five. Maybe a few more coaches.… But what can I do?»

Tsurenko, who turns 33 in a week, is from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. She is ranked 119th and her best Grand Slam showing was the quarterfinals at the 2018 U.S. Open.

After considering going home following the invasion that began in late February — «And try to help there in some way; I don't know in which way, but just in some way,» she said — Tsurenko decided to press on.

«It's not very easy to be here,» Tsurenko said. «I don't feel that I care too much. So I'm trying to find this balance between, 'Just go on court and don't care' vs. 'Try to care.' In some