Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
The 21-year-old Russian tennis player, Anastasia Potapova, is steering her hand into a hot cup of controversy with her recent act at the Indian Wells tournament. And not only tennis fans, but the WTA is also not quite happy with the Russian tennis star’s move on the tennis court.
The Russian tennis star who admires Maria Sharapova’s journey on the tennis court, Potapova, chose to wear a Spartak Moscow football shirt during her third-round match of the tournament against Jessica Pegula. And showed her support publicly for her country during the invasion of Ukraine.
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Anastasia Potapova receives a warning from the WTA
The 21-year-old tennis player’s move to support her favorite Russian football team didn’t really go well with the WTA. According to a journalist of a British newspaper, the WTA issued a clear warning over her confusing move. Which somehow drew questions and concerns, as tennis fans thought that she was sending a provocative political message.
NEW: Anastasia Potapova has been formally warned by the WTA after walking out at Indian Wells wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt.
Doing so was deemed neither "acceptable or appropriate" and it is not expected to happen again.#TennisParadise
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) March 15, 2023
However, the WTA also shared a clear warning with the Russian tennis player for her act that was neither deemed “acceptable or appropriate.” And supported by fact, this is one of the reasons why tennis organizations are not allowing the Russian and Belarusian tennis players to participate. Just to avoid any unnecessary political debacle on the tennis court.
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This all came to light after the world’s number one tennis player, Iga Swiatek, issued a statement regarding her stand over watching the tennis star support her favorite Russian team on the tennis court.
Iga Swiatek was not happy with Potapova’s bold move
The world No. one tennis star shared her clear take on Potapova’s situation at Indian Wells, explaining how her way of showing support was not right. And emphasized the point that her support came out at the wrong time. Nevertheless, the police tennis star also agreed that she is a huge fan of the Russian football team. But showing support on the tennis court was definitely not a great idea.
Iga Swiatek on Potapova wearing Moscow jersey: “To be honest, I was surprised. I thought she realized she should not, even if she’s a fan of the team, show her views in this way at such times. I talked to WTA & found out there should be less situations, which reassured me a bit” pic.twitter.com/Eip0FupijG
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 14, 2023
However, after everything, Potapova stood up for herself and explained her move. Nevertheless, she shared that she just wore the football jersey to show her support for the football team. And also pointed out that she is a huge fan of the Spartak Moscow football team.
What are your thoughts on Anastasia Potapova’s bold move on the Tennis Court? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Written by
Edited by
Deepika Bhaduri