TSURENKO: “What did they do for me? The answer is nothing. My city has been bombed 16 times!”

Ukrainian tennis player Lesya Tsurenko (WTA 66) held an emotional press conference after defeating Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova (WTA 13) in the 1/64 final of the French Open 2023:

“I have said many times that I think a lot of misinformation is being spread about Ukrainians and helping Ukrainians. I can ask a simple question, for example, what was done for Lesya Tsurenko? And I will give the answer – nothing.

I am very disappointed. I feel so many things, I don’t know how to say it, let’s call it disappointment. I also feel that over the last few months top players have been spreading a lot of misinformation about us being offensive or spreading hate, which frankly seems weird to me.

If I have a dissatisfied face for a few days, it’s probably because my city was bombed. I think only 16 people came in May. Only in May! My city has been bombed 16 times!

Yesterday, part of the rocket fell within 100 meters of my house. This makes me miserable because my face is not overly happy just because the rocket didn’t hit my house and landed close to my house.

My sad face is a result of all this. So I don’t think this young, talented girl from the country who is fighting right now doesn’t deserve this. This is my idea”.

In the next round of Roland Garros, Lesya will play with Lauren Davis.