"What threat can an athlete represent for Poland?": Kuznetsova hits out at Zvonareva being denied entry to Poland
WTAMonday, 24 July 2023 at 07:32
Former Russian tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova has lambasted
Poland authorities for denying entry to Vera Zvonareva.
The 38-year-old was banned from entry into the country as she
was on her way to take part in the Warsaw Open.
The authorities cited public safety as the primary reason
for restricting Zvonareva in a statement.
"The Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player
from entering Poland. Vera Zvonareva, using a visa issued by France, tried to
get into our country on a flight from Belgrade to Warsaw," said the
ministry said as quoted by Reuters.
"After arriving from Serbia, the tennis player stayed
in the transit zone of Warsaw Chopin Airport and today after 1200 she flew to
Podgorica."
The decision was taken likely because of the ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukraine, which started back in February 2022 and resulted in heavy loss of human lives on both sides.
Kuznetsova, while speaking about that, criticised the authorities
for making such a move and questioned how an athlete can pose a risk to the safety
of the people.
“Zvonareva was supposed to play in a tournament in Poland,
but was refused entry by border guards when she arrived in the country,” she said.
“It's strange to read that. What threat can an athlete represent for Poland?”
Zvonareva is a very renowned tennis player, having reached
the final of two Grand Slams in her career. Both of those occasions came in
2010 but she ended up on the losing side.
She also became the world number two in 2010 after her
heroics on the field and before that, won a bronze medal for Russia in the 2008
Olympics.
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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