By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, April 17, 2025
Photograph credit score: @BrisbaneTennis
Lesia Tsurenko is taking her trigger to court docket.
Tsurenko is taking authorized motion towards the WTA Tour alleging “ethical abuse” by its former CEO.
The 35-year-old Ukrainian mentioned on social media she’s suffered “ache, concern, panic assaults, humiliation, withholding data, harassment of my workforce” by WTA Tour execs in what she claims is a bid to silence her.
Tsurenko has publicly criticized Tour officers prior to now over the standing of Russian and Belarusian gamers within the sport following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022.
“Even in my worst nightmares, I couldn’t think about that the skilled tour, which I thought-about my dwelling, would develop into a terrifying and alien place, the place the CEO… consciously dedicated an act of ethical abuse towards me, resulting in a panic assault and the lack to do my job,” Tsurenko posted on social media. “The WTA tour refused to guard a lady, a participant, a human being. As an alternative, the WTA tour selected to guard an individual in a management place.
“My final likelihood to defend myself, to face up for my rights, my dignity, and to forestall such acts of violence in sports activities is to hunt justice in court docket.”
— Lesia Tsurenko (@LTsurenko) April 16, 2025
Again in March of 2023, Tsurenko generated international consideration when she withdrew from her scheduled third-round match towards Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at Indian Wells.
The day after that withdrawal, the Ukrainian revealed she suffered a panic assault after discussing participation of Russian and Belarusian gamers on the WTA Tour with then WTA CEO Steve Simon.
“A number of days in the past, I had a dialog with our WTA CEO, Steve Simon, and I used to be completely shocked by what I heard,” Tsurenko posted in March of 2023. “He informed me that he himself doesn’t help the warfare, but when the gamers from Russia and Belarus help it, then that is solely their very own opinion and the opinion of different folks mustn’t upset me.”
Lesia Tsurenko informed us she felt mentally dangerous for a number of days and had a psychological breakdown “after all of the issues I’ve heard. It was a panic assault, I had bother respiration. A number of days in the past I had a dialog with Steve Simon, I used to be completely shocked by what I heard from him” 👇 pic.twitter.com/hZZJcNtWOA
— Ukrainian Tennis • BTU (@ukrtennis_eng) March 13, 2023
“This dialog left me fully shocked,” Tsurenko mentioned of her dialogue with Simon. “I attempted to digest all the data, however right this moment, I simply broke down mentally.”
Now ranked No. 239, Tsurenko has not performed a professional match since final November. Tsurenko has received 4 profession singles championships and reached a career-high rating of No. 23 in February, 2019.
The WTA Tour right this moment responded to Tsurenko’s authorized motion.
In an announcement issued to AFP, the WTA mentioned it has “the best sympathy” for Tsurenko and different Ukrainian gamers, who’re coping with the emotional and psychological anguish of the continued warfare, nevertheless it asserts Tour officers “acted appropriately.”
“We’re upset that she has determined to interact in litigation to hunt to carry the WTA liable for her misery,” the WTA informed AFP.
“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.”
Present WTA CEO Portia Archer succeeded Steve Simon as CEO in August of 2024 and was not with the Tour when Tsurenko shared that dialog with Simon in March, 2023.
Tsurenko mentioned she’s tried to debate the problem additional with officers, however claims she was rebuffed and her issues have been rejected by the WTA Tour.
“I spoke about it brazenly and straight. I attempted to hunt safety and justice throughout the WTA,” Tsurenko mentioned on social medi. “However in response, confronted indifference and injustice, which led to a protracted ethical decline.”
