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Tennis-US Judge Dismisses Lawsuit by Ukraine's Tsurenko Against Wta Over Distress Linked to War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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A U.S. judge dismissed Lesia Tsurenko’s lawsuit against the WTA and former CEO Steve Simon, finding no legal duty to protect her emotional wellbeing despite her claims of mental distress tied to the WTA’s handling of Russian/Belarusian players.
US Judge Dismisses Lesia Tsurenko's Lawsuit Against WTA Over Handling of Russian Players
Overview of the Lesia Tsurenko Lawsuit and Court Decision
By Jonathan Stempel
Background of the Lawsuit
NEW YORK, March 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit by Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko accusing the WTA Tour and former chief executive Steve Simon of inflicting mental abuse over their handling of Russian and Belarusian players following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Tsurenko, a former top-25 player, sued over the WTA's alleged failure to uphold Simon's promise to ban Russian and Belarusian players who supported the war, and prohibit "conduct detrimental" to the tour and the game's integrity.
Specific Allegations Made by Tsurenko
The 36-year-old cited instances where a Russian player wore a patch for a sanctioned Russian oil company, and said Simon told her it was "OK" for others to support the war. Tsurenko said a "panic attack" caused her to withdraw from a match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, now the world's No. 1 female player, at the 2023 BNP Paribas tournament in Indian Wells, California.
The Court's Ruling
But in a decision on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan said the WTA was best equipped to decide what qualified as detrimental conduct, and Tsurenko did not show it had duties to ban players or keep the game free from emotional abuse.
Judge Buchwald's Reasoning
"When courts have found that sports associations owe a duty to their players, those duties relate to ensuring players’ physical safety, not their emotional wellbeing," Buchwald wrote.
WTA's Actions Following the Invasion
Buchwald also said the WTA employed "reasoned decision making" following the invasion, including by banning players from competing under Russia's and Belarus' flags.
Reactions and Statements
Tsurenko sought damages for breach of contract and negligence, including the infliction of emotional distress. Her lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The WTA's lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.
Defendants' Position
In seeking a dismissal, the defendants said they had consistently condemned Russia's actions and taken significant steps to support Ukrainian players.
WTA's Stance on Individual Athletes
They also said that like many sports leagues, the WTA believed individual athletes "should not be punished because of the actions of their countries' governments."
Impact on Tsurenko and Broader Context
Tsurenko has spoken frequently about the challenges of competing on tour since Russia's invasion.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Key Takeaways
- •The judge ruled that the WTA’s decisions—such as banning flags—were within its domain and that courts don’t impose emotional welfare duties on sports bodies, only physical safety obligations.
- •Tsurenko had alleged breach of contract, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress, citing a panic attack at Indian Wells over the WTA’s handling of Russian/Belarusian players.
- •The court noted the WTA employed reasoned decision‑making post‑invasion, including not allowing players to compete under their national flags, thus rejecting Tsurenko’s claims.
- •The WTA emphasized in its defense it had consistently condemned Russia’s actions and supported Ukrainian players, and that individual athletes shouldn’t be penalized for their governments’ actions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tennis-US judge dismisses lawsuit by Ukraine's Tsurenko against WTA over distress linked to war
1Why did Lesia Tsurenko sue the WTA?
Tsurenko sued the WTA for alleged mental abuse over its handling of Russian and Belarusian players after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
2What was the main reason the lawsuit was dismissed?
The judge ruled the WTA had no legal duty to ban players based on emotional wellbeing and that it followed reasoned decision making after the invasion.
3What did Tsurenko cite as emotional distress?
Tsurenko referenced a panic attack causing her to withdraw from a match and the WTA not banning players who supported the war.
4How did the WTA respond to the invasion of Ukraine?
The WTA banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing under their national flags and condemned Russia's actions.
5Did the WTA's actions violate its duty to players?
According to the judge, the WTA's duties relate to physical safety, not emotional wellbeing, so there was no violation.
