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Russian former tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova spoke out against Czech Petra Kvitová, who opposed the participation of Russian and Belarusian tennis players at the Olympics.
Kuznetsova, who retired three years ago, said it was “clear Czechs are against the Russian people.” She added that, while there was “propaganda and Russophobia all over the world,” athletes should not get involved in such matters, given that they “have to play tennis” after all, according to Sport.cz.
Svetlana Kuznetsova on Petra Kvitova saying Russia should be banned from Olympics: “It’s clear that Czechs are very opposed to Russian people. There is propaganda & Russophobia all over the world. I believe athletes should not get involved in this. They just have to play tennis.†pic.twitter.com/Xb3rBBGex3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 9, 2023
Earlier this month, Czech tennis star Petra Kvitová defeated reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina to win the Miami Open. The victory gave Kvitová her first title of the season, 30th career title, and ninth career title at a WTA 1000 tournament.
Kvitová was vocal about her stance against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions, saying they “shouldn't even compete in the Olympics.”
The Czech tennis player said she was “more on the Ukrainian side on this,” adding “I feel like the Olympics are here because we don't want war in the world. So that worries me. And I really appreciated when Wimbledon didn't invite them last year."
The International Olympic Committee has recommended that international sports federations allow the return of neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions, but Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and cabinet have expressed their opposition.
