NEW YORK — Ukrainian tennis participant Lesia Tsurenko has filed an amended lawsuit that accuses the WTA Tour and its chairman, Steve Simon, of a breach of contract, negligence and the “negligent infliction of emotional misery” due to the way in which it has dealt with Russian and Belarusian gamers amid the struggle in Ukraine.
Tsurenko, who was as soon as among the many world’s high 25, claims within the lawsuit that WTA executives — together with Simon, who was its CEO on the time — didn’t observe by on assurances made in a gathering with Ukrainian gamers that the group would ban Russian or Belarussian gamers who publicly supported the struggle with Ukraine.
The amended lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal courtroom for the Southern District of New York, cited examples equivalent to Russian participant Veronika Kudermetova carrying a patch on the French Open for sponsor Taneft, a subsidiary of an organization that was sanctioned by the European Union for serving to to produce the Russian military.
“Regardless of this promise,” the lawsuit from Tsurenko claims, “neither Defendant Steve Simon nor Defendant WTA banned Russian and Belarus gamers who publicly supported the struggle.”
The WTA mentioned in an announcement to The Related Press on Wednesday that it has been “steadfast and clear in its condemnation of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine and the actions of the Russian authorities towards the Ukrainian individuals.”
“Per our place,” the assertion mentioned, “the WTA has taken quite a few steps to help our Ukrainian participant members, who’ve confronted nice challenges as skilled athletes. The WTA has been equally clear that it was based on rules of equality and non-discrimination and its guidelines present that competitions are open to all ladies gamers who qualify based mostly on their benefit, and with out discrimination. Per these rules, and in widespread with different tennis organizations, the WTA has taken the place that particular person athletes shouldn’t be penalized for the actions of their governments.”
Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the WTA Tour, ATP Tour and Worldwide Tennis Federation issued a joint assertion wherein it mentioned Russian and Belarusian athletes can be allowed to compete so long as they didn’t compete underneath their nation’s flags. That coverage stays in place with Russian and Belarusian athletes competing eventually 12 months’s Paris Olympics as “Particular person Impartial Athletes;” Russian gamers Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider received silver in ladies’s doubles.
Tsurenko’s lawsuit states that she was compelled to withdraw from an occasion at Indian Wells due to a panic assault from having to doubtlessly play towards Russians and Belarusians, and that she had “developed extreme stress, lack of focus affecting her efficiency at tennis video games, mortification and damage to her emotions.”
Lindsay Brandon, the WTA director of safeguarding, knowledgeable Tsurenko in 2023 that Simon can be investigated for violating its code of conduct. However that October, the group knowledgeable her that Simon had not violated its code nor any provision of the worker handbook. Tsurenko tried to enchantment however was unsuccessful.
“Even in my worst nightmares, I could not think about that the skilled tour, which I thought-about my house, would turn into a terrifying and alien place, the place the (former) CEO of the group consciously dedicated an act of ethical abuse towards me, resulting in a panic assault and my incapability to do my job,” Tsurenko wrote Tuesday on social media.
The preliminary grievance filed in November requests a trial by jury.
Proskaeur Rose, the legislation agency representing the WTA, filed a movement final month to dismiss the case on the grounds that Tsurenko’s claims had been “legally faulty.” The WTA has till April 30 to determine whether or not it can proceed with its movement to dismiss.
“Whereas the WTA has the best sympathy for the numerous challenges that Ms. Tsurenko and our different Ukrainian athletes have confronted,” its assertion mentioned Wednesday, “we’re disenchanted that she has determined to interact in litigation to hunt to carry the WTA accountable for her misery. Always, the WTA and its administration acted appropriately and in accordance with our guidelines, and we’re assured that we’ll prevail on this litigation.”
