"Unfortunately, people like Iga Swiatek, Petra Kvitova are in minority" - Ukrainian tennis chief rues lack of support from tennis fraternity
Ukrainian tennis chief Evgeniy Zukin has taken note of Petra Kvitova and Iga Swiatek's call for the tennis world to offer more support for tennis players coming from the war-torn country.
In an interview with UBITennis discussing the many issues plaguing Ukrainian tennis at the moment, Zukin appreciated Kvitova and Swiatek's empathetic stance. He, however, was quick to add that the duo's comments have put them in the "minority" of those on the tennis circuit who are openly voicing support for Ukraine.
"Unfortunately, people like Swiatek or Petra Kvitova are in the minority and not the majority. It is really bad that nobody cares enough about what is going on," Zukin said.
Elaborating, Zukin said Swiatek and Kvitova come from countries that are really close to Ukraine and know what the adversities from the Soviet Union era. The Ukrainian thanked the duo for their public stance.
"Iga Swiatek and Petra Kvitova come from countries that are really close to Ukraine and they feel how it is affecting them because of the refugees and the threat from Russia if Ukraine falls," he said.
"They know how it felt to live during the Soviet Union era and they have a much better feel about what is going on. We are thankful that they provided this position to the public that the war shouldn’t be normalised," he added.
Iga Swiatek, Petra Kvitova were among first tennis players to come out in support of Ukraine
Ukrainian tennis chief Evgeniy Zukin's comments come days after Petra Kvitova, on the sidelines of the Miami Open, said she was "more worried" about Ukrainian people and players. Iga Swiatek had flagged similar concerns earlier in the year.
Notably, Kvitova and Swiatek were among some of the first players to show solidarity with Ukraine last year. The duo sported yellow and blue ribbons — representing the colors of the Ukrainian flag —at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
Last year, the Lawn Tennis Association, tennis' governing body in the United Kingdom, imposed a controversial blanket ban on Russian and Belarusian players at the Wimbledon Championships — a decision that was recently reversed.