Lesia Tsurenko‘s coach Nikita Vlasov is accusing Belarusia’s Aryna Sabalenka of “using the same trick as the Russian propaganda.” After Ukraine’s Tsurenko said a panic attack caused her to give a walkover to Sabalenka in their Indian Wells third-round match, Sabalenka said that “there was more than just a panic attack or more than a political situation” in that case.
Vlasov seemingly took Sabalenka’s comments as a direct shot at him. “Something that surprised me the most was that while addressing this terrible situation with Tsurenko, there were no words from Sabalenka about wishing Lesia well or a speedy recovery.
She didn’t condemn Simon’s words by any means and the whole situation either. Instead in her comment she did the same trick as the Russian propaganda did at the beginning of the war, when the territory of Belarus was used to shell Kyiv.
Back then Russians and Belarusians said that it was the Ukrainians who were bombing their capital. It’s the same here. ‘Tsurenko’s coach puts pressure on Tsurenko.’ They didn’t come up with anything new. It’s just an attempt to shift the focus from the situation, nothing else.
And I will gladly dive into the discussion and give you more answers, but only after the current situation is resolved,” Vlasov told BTU.
No info so far from the WTA on whether they are ready to talk with the ðºð¦ players who requested a call/meeting, says Nikita Vlasov.
Still the unanswered question is what’s the WTA policy on tennis reps who support the war/army
More from the Ukrainian coach of Lesia Tsurenko ð pic.twitter.com/yBOavpfbXu — Ukrainian Tennis • BTU (@ukrtennis_eng) March 22, 2023
Tsurenko’s coach Vlasov addresses Sabalenka’s response
In Indian Wells, Tsurenko also claimed that during a chat with WTA CEO Steve Simon, she was told she “should not be upset if some Russian and Belarusian players support their governments because it’s just their opinion.” Addressing Sabalenka’s response to Tsurenko’s comments, Vlasov had more to say.
“Because when the head of the organization declares that to be surrounded by people who support the invasion of your country, – and murder, rape, looting and kidnapping which come with it, – is fine, and such people simply have their opinion and they should not be punished for that.
And this is what the WTA policy is all about and they will stick to it. Then, sure, the problem is much bigger than a panic attack,” Vlasov said.
