NEW YORK – Ukrainian tennis player Lescia Zurenko has filed an amendment lawsuit accusing the WTA Tour and its chairman Steve Simon of breach of contract, negligence and “inflicting the effects of negligence in emotional distress.”
Tslenko, once among the top 25 in the world, claims that WTA executives, including then-CEO Simon, were unable to comply with the assurance that in meetings with Ukrainian players that they would ban Russian or Beralsi players who publicly supported the war with Ukraine.
The amended lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in the Southern District of New York cited examples such as Veronica Kudermetova, a Russian player wearing patches at the French Open for Sponsor Tenet, a subsidiary of a company authorized by the European Union to assist in the supply of Russian troops.
“Despite this promise,” the lawsuit from Tslenko alleges that “neither defendant Steve Simon nor the defendant WTA banned Russians and Belarusian players who publicly supported the war.”
In a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday, the WTA said it was “still making it clear that it is condemning the Russian war against Ukraine and the Russian government’s actions against the Ukrainian people.”
“In line with our position, the WTA has taken many steps to support Ukrainian athlete members who are facing major challenges as professional athletes. The WTA similarly makes clear that it was established on the principles of equality and non-discrimination, and the rules provide that it is open to all female players, based on what its competitors claim on the basis of the Prime Minister. The organization, WTA, takes the position that individual athletes should not be punished for government actions.”
Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the WTA Tour, ATP Tour and International Tennis Federation issued a joint statement stating that Russian and Belarus athletes would be allowed to compete unless they compete under the national flag. That policy consists of athletes from Russia and Belarus who competed as “individual neutral athletes” at last year’s Parisiolmín. Russian players Mira Andreva and Diana Schneider won silver in the women’s doubles.
Tulenko’s lawsuit states that she was forced to withdraw from the events at Indian Wells due to a panic attack from having to potentially play with Russians and Belarusians, “has been experiencing excessive stress, loss of concentration affecting her performance in the tennis game, and injuries to her emotions.”
Lindsay Brandon, director of WTA Safeguarding, informed Tsurenko in 2023 that Simon would be investigated for violating its code of conduct. However, that October, the organization informed her that Simon was not violating the regulations of its code or employee handbook. Türenko attempted to appeal but failed.
“Even my worst nightmare, I couldn’t imagine a professional tour that I was thinking of my home would be a scary and alien place, where it leads to the organization’s (former) CEO consciously committing moral abuse against me, and not being able to work with panic attacks.”
The first complaint filed in November calls for trial by a ju trial.
Proskaeur Rose, the law firm representing the WTA, filed a motion last month to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that Türenko’s claims were “legally flawed.” The WTA will need to decide until April 30th whether to continue its claim for dismissal.
“The WTA has greatest sympathy for the key challenges facing Mr. Trenko and other Ukrainian athletes,” the statement said Wednesday.