Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina REFUSES to face Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 32 matches of the Monterey Open, unless the calls of the International Olympic Committee to ban Russian athletes are met
- Elina Svitolina asked the governing bodies of tennis to follow the IOC’s call
- The Ukrainian said she would not face any Russian or Belarusian opponents
- However, she did not rule out that players from the nations will face neutral athletes
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina He said he would not play his match in the round of 16 against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Monterey Open unless the governing bodies of tennis follow the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC executive director said on Friday that Russian and Belarusian national flags should not be displayed at post-Russian international sporting events. invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, the IOC’s executive board went further and recommended that sports federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from competing, but Svitolina expressed her feelings before the latest publication.
“We, the Ukrainian players, have asked the ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the IOC’s recommendations to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colors, flags or anthems,” Svitolina said.
“Accordingly, I would like to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterey or any other match against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organizations make this necessary decision.”
Elina Svitolina from Ukraine refused to play her last 32 matches against Anastasia Potapova
In a separate but similar statement earlier Monday, Ukrainian tennis players, including Marta Kostyuk and Lesya Tsurenko, called on the WTA to withdraw all tournaments from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Athletes from Ukraine and other nations have called on international bodies to take action after Russia launched its land, air and sea invasion last week after President Vladimir Putin declared war.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” which it says is not intended to occupy territory, but to destroy the military capabilities of its southern neighbor and capture dangerous nationalists.
Russian star Potapova had to face her Ukrainian counterpart at the Monterrey Open
“We, the Ukrainian tennis players, would like to express our great surprise and dissatisfaction with the lack of any response to the situation with our country,” the statement said.
“It is particularly strange that in previous cases of social injustice and sexual harassment, the WTA’s response has been swift, appropriate and bold.
“We want the WTA to immediately condemn the Russian government, withdraw all tournaments from Russia and turn to the ITF to do the same. Stop the war. Stop Russian aggression. Bring peace to our homes. Be a man.
The WTA did not respond immediately to an email requesting comment.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation called on the governing body of sports, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to immediately exclude Russia and Belarus from the organization and ban Russia from team and individual tournaments.