"Most Russian players publicly assert their neutrality but the opposite is true" says Yastremska, calling out WTA reaction to war again
WTAFriday, 11 August 2023 at 09:00
Young tennis star Dayana Yastremska has stated that Russian
players act differently in public regarding their views of the ongoing war in
Ukraine.
Both European neighbours are involved in an armed conflict
since February last year which has resulted in the loss of lives on both sides.
Yastremska was quoted in a report where she stated that
Russian athletes show neutrality in public regarding the war in Ukraine but in
private they are completely opposite.
"Before our match in Lausanne, I went on Instagram to
look at some photos and saw that Mirra liked that posts,” she said. “This was
not a surprise, because most Russian tennis players do the same. They publicly
assert their neutrality, but in fact, the opposite is true.”
Yastremska also stated that she went to the WTA and complained
about this but there has been no or very little reaction from the body.
Read also
"I went to the WTA in Switzerland and told about it,”
she said. “I have not received any reason for their decision. They said
'There's nothing we can do'. I told them it wasn't fair.
"I was surprised by the decision of WTA, but on the
other hand, it's not the first time Ukrainian players showed WTA, what is
happening. We have repeatedly reported similar behavior of players from Russia
on social media. We suggested penalties for them, but nothing changes.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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