Ukrainian tennis player strongly criticizes former CEO of the WTA: "I suffered harassment"

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There is not a day without something big happening in the world of tennis. On what seemed like a peaceful spring afternoon, delving deep into the clay court season, Lesia Tsurenko published a letter where she strongly criticizes Steve Simon, former CEO of the WTA, for "mental abuse" during a conversation that took place a couple of years ago. What she reveals is extremely serious, as it puts the WTA in a very bad light in front of its players.

"It's time to tell the truth," that's how Tsurenko started a letter where she recounts her version of what happened a couple of years ago, during the Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At that time, there was a conversation between Simon and her, where the tennis player claims to have felt "harassed" and "completely abandoned."

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— Lesia Tsurenko (@LTsurenko) April 16, 2025

"Since I was a child, I dreamed of being a professional tennis player. I faced countless obstacles on my way to my dream. I gave all my strength, my soul, and everything I had inside. Being a professional athlete is hard work, and I believe all players will agree with me. It's a job where you give 100% of yourself every day.

Not even in my worst nightmares could I imagine that a professional circuit, which I considered my home, would turn into a terrifying place, where the CEO of the organization (Steve Simon), consciously committed an act of moral abuse against me, leading me to a panic attack and the inability to do my job.

I spoke about this directly and openly. I tried to seek protection and justice within the WTA but, in response, I found indifference and injustice, leading me to prolonged moral decay. Pain, fear, panic attacks, humiliation, information concealment, and harassment of my team to silence me. And this is just part of the list of things I had to endure.

The WTA failed to protect a woman, a tennis player, a human being. Instead, the women's circuit chose to protect a person in a leadership position. My last chance to defend my rights, my dignity, and prevent these acts of violence in sports is to seek justice in court. This is the path I have chosen since the end of last year.

I pray to God that no one goes through what I have experienced and that everyone takes responsibility for their actions."

In 2023, Tsurenko claimed to have suffered a panic attack after a conversation with Simon, where she complained about the quality of the balls in Monterrey and supported Russian and Belarusian players' participation in tournaments like Wimbledon or the Olympics. She also felt unprotected due to the alleged lack of support from the WTA when traveling to tournaments and leaving their homes after the war erupted.

These are very strong accusations that may receive a response from the WTA if Tsurenko, as she claims, succeeds in bringing Simon to court.

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This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Una tenista ucraniana carga duramente contra el exCEO de la WTA: "Sufrí acoso"