"Americans talking about what people from Belarus should do is laughable" - Tennis fans react to journalist's opinion on Russian & Belarusian players

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, tennis players hailing from Russia and Belarus have been subjected to widespread criticism and disdain from Ukrainian players and people across the globe.

News of Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko experiencing a panic attack after a conversation with WTA CEO Steve Simon regarding Russian and Belarusian players has garnered significant attention.

American journalist Ben Rothenberg has expressed his views on the matter and has the same opinion as Wimbledon's decision to require players to compete under a neutral flag. The opinion has not received any positive reactions from tennis fans across the globe.

A dissenting fan expressed disagreement with the journalist's viewpoint, arguing that Americans should refrain from commenting on what the players from those two countries do.

Additionally, they highlighted the hypocrisy of Americans placing themselves on a pedestal, given their government's support of Israel's bombing of Palestine.

"Americans talking about what people from Belarus should do is laughable when US government supports Israel bombing Palestine," they wrote.

TomTom

@TomToTheTom

Americans talking about what people from Belarus should do is laughable when the US government supports Israel bombing Palestine twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

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1

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Americans talking about what people from Belarus should do is laughable when the US government supports Israel bombing Palestine twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

One user presented a counterargument questioning the seriousness of Rothenberg's suggestion that affected players should feign their nationality during tennis tournaments. They wrote:

"Tennis writer seriously suggests Russian/ Belarusian players pretend that they are from a different country during tennis tournaments. Then Tsurenko wouldn't have to withdraw, because she'd be fooled and think Sabalenka was French or something(?)"

I’m the Problem 🐝

@NotKateSharma

Tennis writer seriously suggests Russian/ Belarusian players pretend that they are from a different country during tennis tournaments. Then Tsurenko wouldn't have to withdraw, because she'd be fooled and think Sabalenka was French or something(?) twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

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1

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Tennis writer seriously suggests Russian/ Belarusian players pretend that they are from a different country during tennis tournaments. Then Tsurenko wouldn't have to withdraw, because she'd be fooled and think Sabalenka was French or something(?) twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Here are a few more reactions from fans:

Dylan B

@dccb31

Every time a country does something bad all it’s players must simply acquire citizenship in a different country to play tennis? Am I reading this correctly? You think this is a reasonable solution? Holy shit dude this is insane! twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

3

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Every time a country does something bad all it’s players must simply acquire citizenship in a different country to play tennis? Am I reading this correctly? You think this is a reasonable solution? Holy shit dude this is insane! twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

abby

@leahfridas

you could argue that nearly every country in the world isn’t in good standing be serious twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

7

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

you could argue that nearly every country in the world isn’t in good standing be serious twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

alleged “Rafan” 🫠🥶!

@NawalNadal

Israeli athletes can do whatever they want i guess. As long as it’s not yt people being killed no one gives a shit hh twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

40

5

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Israeli athletes can do whatever they want i guess. As long as it’s not yt people being killed no one gives a shit hh twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Jankobitch

@surgapovaaa

worst take i have heard in a while "a country in good standing" which country is that? the US? China? Israel? twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

4

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

worst take i have heard in a while "a country in good standing" which country is that? the US? China? Israel? twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

emily

@andreyrublevs

"a country in good standing". Ben is American 🤣 twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

24

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

"a country in good standing". Ben is American 🤣 twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

franco

@francodancoo

“Country in good standing” come up folks and spin the wheel of country representation so we can get Pavlyuchenkova from Canada twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

12

1

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

“Country in good standing” 😩 come up folks and spin the wheel of country representation so we can get Pavlyuchenkova from Canada twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

👻

@1hbhdtl

Why'd they represent a random country twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

8

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Why'd they represent a random country twitter.com/BenRothenberg/… https://t.co/2jLZKDmsJ3

arthnold manercatserman

@underarm_ace

I don't have a solution but this is not it. twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

3

1

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

I don't have a solution but this is not it. twitter.com/BenRothenberg/…

Matthew.

@MFallingStar18

And who exactly is it that is deciding which country is in “good standing?” Surely not an American. twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

3

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

And who exactly is it that is deciding which country is in “good standing?” Surely not an American. twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

🫰🏽✨

@MonteSpice

Y’all just be saying anything cuz I know you did not just suggest playing the Olympics under another country’s flags… twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Ben Rothenberg

@BenRothenberg

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

10

2

My suggestion: tennis (and the Olympics, potentially) require that every athlete must represent a country in good standing; Russia and Belarus are not on that list, so athletes from those countries must pick another nation to represent going forward.

Y’all just be saying anything cuz I know you did not just suggest playing the Olympics under another country’s flags… twitter.com/benrothenberg/…

Lesia Tsurenko reveals WTA CEO told her not to be upset by Russian players supporting the war

Lesia Tsurenko at the 2022 Australian Open

Lesia Tsurenko recently revealed that she experienced a panic attack after a conversation with Steve Simon, the CEO of the WTA. The conversation left an intense impact on her, leading her to withdraw from the ongoing Indian Wells Open.

During their discussion, Simon brought up the topic of Eurasian and Belarusian players being allowed to participate in the Olympics. According to him, everyone has an equal opportunity to perform.

Simon's comments were prompted by Wimbledon's decision to lift the ban on the affected players, which was imposed during the war.

"Besides, Steve Simon expressed his confidence to me that the Russians and Belarussians will return to the Olympics and it will happen as it is happening in tennis right now. He told me that this is in fact a fair play and it shows that Olympic principles are not violated. That it will show that everyone is equal and everyone has the opportunity to perform at the Olympics," Lesia Tsurenko said.

When Tsurenko confronted Simon about his controversial statements, questioning why he would make such remarks while her home country of Ukraine is currently embroiled in a war, the CEO responded by stating that his comments were merely his personal opinion.

He further added that if the concerned players hold a different opinion and support the war, that is their prerogative and it should not cause any offense to her.

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