Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko files lawsuit against WTA Tour over Russian invasion

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Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko has filed a lawsuit in the New York Southern District Court which names the WTA Tour and its chairman Steve Simon as defendants. Tsurenko, who has been ranked as high as world No. 23, alleges “a breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision and retention” and “negligent infliction of emotional distress.” The lawsuit requests a jury trial.

Proskaeur Rose, the law firm representing the WTA Tour, has filed a motion to dismiss the case which describes Tsurenko’s claims as “legally defective.” Tsurenko’s lawyers have filed an amended complaint in response, which describes the WTA by-laws that the Tour cites in support of its case, which see players waive their rights to any legal claims against the organization, as “unconscionable.”

The WTA Tour must now confirm by April 30 whether or not it will continue with the motion to dismiss.

Tsurenko, who is the sole plaintiff, alleges that a series of interactions regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with WTA Tour executives and with Simon, who was its chief executive when the alleged offences took place, led to her suffering from “bouts of insomnia” and “crying episodes.”

The lawsuit states that she “developed excessive stress, loss of concentration affecting her performance at tennis games, mortification, and injury to her feelings.”

It alleges that Simon and the WTA Tour at large reneged on statements made at a meeting with Tsurenko and fellow Ukrainian players Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk in March 2022. “Mr. Simon took an aggressive stance but stated that if Russian or Belarus players showed public support of the war, they would be banned from any tournament
sponsored by the WTA,” it says.

“Despite this promise, neither Defendant Steve Simon nor Defendant WTA banned Russian and Belarus players who publicly supported the war.”

The lawsuit cites examples including Russian player Veronika Kudermetova’s wearing of a Taneft sponsorship patch at the 2022 French Open: A subsidiary of the company was sanctioned by the European Union in 2023 for its supplying tires to the Russian army.

It also alleges that French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, named as “Mr. Amelie Morezmo” in the lawsuit, told a group of Ukrainian players that a planned presentation on the war had been blocked by Simon.

The lawsuit further alleges that Simon, at a meeting with Tsurenko in March 2023 told her: “’It is OK to support the war. It is another person’s opinion and it should not hurt you.’ Further, he said that Russian and Belarus players should be returned to the Olympic Games.” The emotional impact of this meeting, the lawsuit alleges, led Tsurenko to withdraw from her match against Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., citing a panic attack.

Lesia Tsurenko during her match against Donna Vekić at Indian Wells in 2023. (Robert Prange / Getty Images)

Following that tournament, the lawsuit alleges, Tsurenko attended a video call with Simon, the WTA board, and Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette, members of the WTA player council. Tsurenko’s coach, Mykyta Vlasov, made a written request to conduct an internal investigation into Simon’s statements, but Lindsay Brandon, the WTA director of safeguarding, later informed Tsurenko that he would be investigated for violating the WTA’s code of conduct.

In October 2023, the WTA informed Tsurenko that Simon “did not violate the Code of Conduct or any provision in the Employee Handbook.” Tsurenko appealed, unsuccessfully.

In a statement sent to The Athletic, a WTA spokesperson said: “From the outset, the WTA has been steadfast and clear in its condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the actions of the Russian government against the Ukrainian people. Consistent with our position, the WTA has taken numerous steps to assist our Ukrainian player members, who have faced great challenges as professional athletes.

“The WTA has been equally clear that it was founded on principles of equality and non-discrimination and its rules provide that competitions are open to all women players who qualify based on their merit, and without discrimination. Consistent with those principles, and in common with other tennis organizations, the WTA has taken the position that individual athletes should not be penalized for the actions of their governments.

“While the WTA has the greatest sympathy for the significant challenges that Ms. Tsurenko and our other Ukrainian athletes have faced, we are disappointed that she has decided to engage in litigation to seek to hold the WTA responsible for her distress. At all times, the WTA and its management acted appropriately and in accordance with our rules, and we are confident that we will prevail in this litigation.”

On March 1 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the WTA Tour, ATP Tour and International Tennis Federation (ITF) issued a joint statement.

“A deep sense of distress, shock and sadness has been felt across the entire tennis community following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the past week,” it said.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and we commend the many tennis players who have spoken out and taken action against this unacceptable act of aggression.”

The statement also indicated that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete at tennis events, but not under their countries’ flags. This policy remains in place, with no mention of their nationality when they are introduced to the crowd at their matches. Ukrainian players do not shake hands with Russians and Belarusians at the end of matches, even those which have publicly denounced or criticized the war. Russian and Belarusian athletes were permitted to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN); Russian tennis players Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider won the silver medal in women’s doubles.

Tsurenko posted a statement on social media April 16, summarizing her complaints against Simon and the WTA.

“Even in my worst nightmares, I couldn’t imagine that the professional tour, which I considered my home, would become a terrifying and alien place, where the CEO of the organization conciously (sic) committed an act of moral abuse against me, leading to a panic attack and my inability to do my job,” she wrote in a statement posted to X.

pic.twitter.com/v4ENv56UQK

— Lesia Tsurenko (@LTsurenko) April 16, 2025

Given the preponderance of Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian players — especially on the WTA Tour — tennis has had to reckon with the consequences of the war more than most sports. The tensions were particularly acute at the recent American hard-court events in Indian Wells and Miami, following the explosive February meeting in the Oval Office where President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance berated Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, for a lack of gratitude for America’s support.

Ukraine most recently qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, a victory which it dedicated to its soldiers in a statement posted by Svitolina on social media.

(Top photo: VCG / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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