"WTA should think about punishing statements like this" - Tennis fans furious over Petra Kvitova's comment about Russian players

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova recently gave her thoughts on the grass-court Major's decision to lift its ban on Russian and Belarusian players. Her comments, however, have not gone down well with several tennis fans around the world.Kvitova advanced to the 2023 Miami Open final with a straight-sets win over Romania's Sorana Cirstea on Friday (March 31). Triumphing 7-5, 6-4 victory in one hour and 41 minutes, the Czech veteran has made her way to the title bout against reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.After her semifinal win, Petra Kvitova was asked in her press conference to comment on Wimbledon lifting the ban on Russian and Belarusian players. The Czech responded that she did not believe Russian and Belarusian players should be allowed to play either Wimbledon or at the Olympics.&quot;Well, first of all, for sure, I always state like against the war. For sure I'm just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players,&quot; Kvitova said.&quot;I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points, that Belarusian and Russian didn't play. And I think they shouldn't be allowed, actually, in my opinion, either to Olympics. I'm just still a bit on the Ukrainian side of this,&quot; she added.Many fans were outraged by Kvitova's remarks and took to Twitter to express their disappointment. According to one user, the WTA should consider punishing players who make such &quot;discriminatory&quot; and &quot;disrespectful&quot; statements.&quot;WTA should think about punishing statements like this. This is discriminatory and disrespectful, not to mention purely selfish - because like it or not Russian/Belarus players are dominant on both tours,&quot; the user wrote.Mia@mementoo_vivere@marioboc17 @Petra_Kvitova WTA should think about punishing statements like this. This is discriminatory and disrespectful, not to mention purely selfish - because like it or not Russian/Belarus players are dominant on both tours.1363@marioboc17 @Petra_Kvitova WTA should think about punishing statements like this. This is discriminatory and disrespectful, not to mention purely selfish - because like it or not Russian/Belarus players are dominant on both tours.Another user stated that they did not expect such an &quot;unfair&quot; statement from a player like Petra Kvitova, writing:&quot;Such an unfair statement from her. Did not expected that. Sport people unite people and they can not do anything from a political point of view. Why punish them. People want peace. Politicians want war.&quot;Janine Hogendoorn@jane1170@marioboc17 @Petra_Kvitova Such an unfair statement from her. Did not expected that. Sport people unite people and they can not do anything from a political point of view. Why punish them. People want peace. Politicians want war.813@marioboc17 @Petra_Kvitova Such an unfair statement from her. Did not expected that. Sport people unite people and they can not do anything from a political point of view. Why punish them. People want peace. Politicians want war.Another account was disappointed by the Czech's remarks and thus wished for her upcoming opponent Elena Rybakina to win the 2023 Miami Open.&quot;Very dissapointed. Go Rybakina! Just win the tournament!&quot; the account posted.Rosa Leite Garcia@coisinha59Very dissapointed. Go Rybakina! Just win the tournament! twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;242Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhVery dissapointed. Go Rybakina! Just win the tournament! twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:JP 🇦🇷 ⭐⭐⭐@NardinPedroThis is called xenophobia (and hypocrisy)Is terrible that still in 2023 this is taking placeIt's sad to see several people approving and normalizing itDiscrimination is not a tolerable opinion my friend, no wonder why she's receiving hate for this, isn't too hard to understand twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;56942Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhThis is called xenophobia (and hypocrisy)Is terrible that still in 2023 this is taking placeIt's sad to see several people approving and normalizing itDiscrimination is not a tolerable opinion my friend, no wonder why she's receiving hate for this, isn't too hard to understand twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Shane Han🦁️@imshanehanDon’t touch politics like this Petra. No one has rights to take away other’s’ rights. It’s not their fault to be Belarusian and Russian. twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;342Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhDon’t touch politics like this Petra. No one has rights to take away other’s’ rights. It’s not their fault to be Belarusian and Russian. twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Christian ✌🏽@x_christixnRybakina about to beat her down in the final now lol twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;242Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhRybakina about to beat her down in the final now lol twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Burns@BurnsChrusAh fuckk... I like her, but this leaves me questioning things!! 🤦 twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;542Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhAh fuckk... I like her, but this leaves me questioning things!! 🤦 twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Naty@bwehland1997Now I'll cheer even louder for Elena twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;142Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhNow I'll cheer even louder for Elena twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Jawn Cena@jawncena_Rybakina will make her eat these words twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;57242Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhRybakina will make her eat these words twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Ijaz Uddin@uddinbijaz97I’m surprised about Kvitova’s comments because I thought she was better than this. The Belarusian and Russian players shouldn’t unfairly be scapegoated for the actions of Lukashenko and Putin. twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…Mario Boccardi@marioboc17Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot;242Petra Kvitova: &quot;I always state against the war. I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. I think they shouldn’t be allowed, in my opinion, either to the Olympics&quot; https://t.co/OcvW2h3RzhI’m surprised about Kvitova’s comments because I thought she was better than this. The Belarusian and Russian players shouldn’t unfairly be scapegoated for the actions of Lukashenko and Putin. 😔 twitter.com/marioboc17/sta…&quot;I think the best experience is still playing her, for sure&quot; - Petra Kvitova on facing Elena Rybakina in the Miami finalPetra Kvitova pictured at the 2023 Miami Open - Day 13When asked about her plans to face reigning Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina in the final of the Miami Open, Petra Kvitova stated that playing the Kazakh would provide her with the &quot;best experience.&quot;&quot;Well, I watched few games yesterday when she played Jessica. But in the TV it's different than when you are facing her. I know that she likes to play deeper in the court, going for the big serves. I think the best experience is still playing her, for sure,&quot; Kvitova said.The duo have met each other on the tour twice before, with their head-to-head standing at 1-1. While Rybakina won the first meeting between the two in Ostrava last year, her opponent evened things up in Adelaide earlier this year.

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