"Be a man and take this to the public": Alexandr Dolgopolov slams WTA CEO Steve Simon amid ongoing situation involving Lesia Tsurenko

Friday, 23 June 2023 at 23:30

Alexandr Dolgopolov criticized WTA CEO Steve Simon for his comments to Lesia Tsurenko regarding the war

Former tennis player Aleksandr Dolgopolov shared his opinion on the comments made by Steve Simon, CEO of the WTA, to Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine.

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The former world No. 24 retired during her third-round match against Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells, citing a panic attack as the reason for her withdrawal. Afterwards, she publicly disclosed the details of her discussion with Simon. In response to this, Dolgopolov commented on Twitter:

"Steve Simon, @WTA CEO to @LTsurenko:“I don’t support the war, but it’s OK if players support it”. Steve, instead of intimidating Ukrainian women, be a man and take this to the public. Conversation happened with you on duty, people deserve to know, it’s OK, to support genocide," Dolgopolov wrote on Twitter.

Alex Dolgopolov

@TheDolgo

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Steve Simon, @WTA CEO to @LTsurenko :“I don’t support the war, but it’s OK if 🇷🇺🇧🇾 players support it”. Steve, instead of intimidating Ukrainian women, be a man and take this to the public. Conversation happened with you on duty,people deserve to know,it’s OK, to support genocide

Ukrainian Tennis • BTU

@ukrtennis_eng

Lesia Tsurenko told us she felt mentally bad for a few days and had a mental breakdown "after all the things I’ve heard. It was a panic attack, I had trouble breathing. A few days ago I had a conversation with Steve Simon, I was absolutely shocked by what I heard from him" 👇

1:42 PM · Mar 13, 2023

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Tsurenko had commented that Simon sympathized with her regarding the Ukrainian situation:

"When I asked whether he understood that he tells me all of this while there is an active war against my country going on right now, he said yes, that this was his opinion," she said.

“He added that he himself would be feeling terrible, if he was in my shoes, and while he doesn't support the war personally, but if the players from Russia and Belarus do support it, he said, this is only their own opinion and the opinion of others should not upset me," Tsurenko added.

The Ukrainian player will play tomorrow in the first round of the qualifying stage at the WTA Eastbourne Open, where she is the third seed aiming to secure a spot in the main draw.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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