Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko sprayed the tennis world for its ambivalence toward the Russia-Ukraine war as she exited the Australian Open on Friday, lamenting that people have lost interest in her country’s plight as the conflict approaches its third year.
Tsurenko, who was bundled out by Belarusian world No.2 and defending Open champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-0, 6-0, said tennis fans now get annoyed if she posts about the war on social media. “People don’t want to talk about war, people don’t want to hear bad news,” the 34-year-old said.
Lesia Tsurenko.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m trying to remind the world … that the war is still on, and people are still struggling. It seems like the whole world is tired of hearing that, but unfortunately, it’s still going on. It’s a part of my life, and we have to talk about it.”
Tsurenko reiterated her call for Russian athletes to be banned from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The International Olympic Committee has ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as neutral individuals – not under their flag – unless they “actively support the war”.
The Ukrainian world No.28 said it was “painful” to play Russian and Belarusian players such as Sabalenka, given how few had spoken out against Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
“Some actively, some silently, but they are all part of that propaganda, of that war machine, that is right now hurting my country and my people,” she said.
Tsurenko said she had lost respect for such players, as well as those who competed in a recent tournament in St Petersburg sponsored by Russian energy giant Gazprom. The event was not associated with the WTA, the women’s professional tour, but the association did not impose sanctions on players who participated.
There was a lot more the tour could have done to support Ukraine earlier, Tsurenko said, but “it’s just too late” now.
Tsurenko and Sabalenka did not shake hands following their third-round match on centre court, as per Ukrainian policy.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Tsurenko and Sabalenka did not shake hands following their third-round match on centre court, as per Ukrainian policy, though Sabalenka said Tsurenko was respectful and congratulated her on her play after the 6-0, 6-0 drubbing, which the No.2 dominated with her serve and controlled power.
It was the first “double bagel” of the tournament, though Sabalenka won her first round match 6-0, 6-1. The 25-year-old has dropped just six games in the first three rounds, and has dispatched her opponents in an average of 57.3 minutes.
Aryna Sabalenka delivered a masterclass on centre court and notched up the first double bagel of the tournament with her 6-0, 6-0 win over Lesia Tsurenko.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“Is that fun for you, sucking the joy out of other tennis players’ games?” she was asked in her post-match on-court interview.
With Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Ons Jabeur eliminated, and world No.1 Iga Swiatek wobbly in her previous match, the defending champion sent a clear message to her rivals that she is the one to beat on the way to next Saturday’s final.
“It’s tennis … anything can happen,” Sabalenka said when asked if it was her tournament to lose. “I don’t want to look that far, I’m just focusing match by match. If I’m ready, I’m ready to win another one. If I’m not, I’m not.”
Sabalenka plays 442-ranked American Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16 as she bids for a place in her eighth grand slam singles quarter-final. Anisimova, 22, is yet to drop a set, and has been ranked as high as world No.21.
Tsurenko said she worked with a psychologist to deal with the impact of the war, and it took her “a few months to get a recipe for myself for how to live and continue playing.”
While she was not happy with Friday’s scoreline, she said scorelines – or even tennis itself – did not feel important in the context of the war.
“I have new goals in my life. So many things that were important to me are not important any more, like a tennis match. I care more about the fact that I can be here, I can remind the world that the war is still on. I can earn some money and I can donate.”
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