WTA chief insists governing body are supporting Ukraine players after Iga Swiatek, Lesia Tsurenko criticism

WTA chief executive Steve Simon says the governing body are doing all they can to help players from Ukraine. Players from Russia and Belarus have played under a neutral flag since the start of the war in February 2022. Ad Anastasia Potapova was warned by the WTA for wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells this week.

WTA Indian Wells'Not their business' — Rybakina slams 'disrespectful' comments about her coach3 HOURS AGO Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko said she withdrew from her Indian Wells match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka this week after a panic attack following a conversation with WTA chief executive Steve Simon. Tsurenko said she was «shocked» by Simon’s answers about tennis’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this week world No.

1 Iga Swiatek called for more support for Ukrainian players as well as «better leadership» and «stricter guidelines» from the WTA. Simon insists the WTA are fully opposed to the war and will continue to adopt a policy of having Russian and Belarusian players recognised as neutral athletes. «We continue to do as much as we have the ability to do,» Simon told BBC Sport.

«We have done a lot for our athletes, I know there's a variety of opinions on that out there. »What's going on in Ukraine is reprehensible. You can't support it any way — nor what the Russian government is doing.

«We spoke with Anastasia directly and also have given her a warning, so she knows that this was not appropriate and I don't think we will see any further instances of this going forward. »Our sympathies are at the highest level with everybody in Ukraine and I don't think any of us can properly understand what they are going through. «I don't think