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Vera Zvonareva: Russian player is barred from entering Poland for Warsaw Open tournament

Border guards prevent Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva from entering Poland; Zvonareva was trying to get into the country to play in the Warsaw Open; The Polish government has put her on a list of "undesirable" visitors; WTA says it will investigate

Vera Zvonareva in action against Kristina Mladenovic during day two of the Viking International at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne. Picture date: Sunday June 20, 2021.
Image: Vera Zvonareva has been denied entry into Poland

Vera Zvonareva is on a list of "undesirable" visitors to Poland and was not permitted to enter the country for the Warsaw Open.

The WTA said it would be "evaluating the issue further with the event" after Russian player Zvonareva was blocked from entering

Zvonareva, a former Wimbledon and US Open finalist, had been due to play in next week's Warsaw Open in singles and doubles but a statement from Poland's Ministry of the Interior and Administration said she was on a list of "undesirable" visitors.

The statement read: "Yesterday, July 21, the Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player from entering Poland.

"Vera Zvonareva, using a visa issued by France, tried to get to our country on a flight from Belgrade to Warsaw. After arriving from Serbia, the tennis player stayed in the transit zone of Chopin Airport in Warsaw and today after 12.00pm flew to Podgorica.

"The Russian woman on the list of persons whose stay is undesirable in the territory of the Republic of Poland was not admitted by the Border Guard for reasons of state security and protection of public safety.

"Poland consistently opposes the regimes of [Vladimir] Putin and [Alexander] Lukashenko, refusing to allow people who support the actions of Russia and Belarus to enter our country."

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Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association were penalised by the tours for banning Russian and Belarusian players last summer following the invasion of Ukraine, a position they reversed this year.

The governing body said in a statement: "The WTA is aware of the situation involving Vera Zvonareva in Warsaw.

"The safety and well-being of all players is a top priority of the WTA. Vera has departed Poland and we will be evaluating the issue further with the event."

Poland has been one of the staunchest allies of Ukraine, while world number one Iga Swiatek, who will be the top seed at the tournament, has publicly sided with players from the stricken country amid locker room tensions.

The country's Minister of Sport, Kamil Bortniczuk, earlier this week said he would boycott matches featuring Russian or Belarusian players.

Anastasia Potapova in action against Mirra Andreeva (not pictured) on day seven of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon.
Image: Russian players like Anastasia Potapova competed at Wimbledon this year

Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich does appear to have made it into the country based on her social media posts.

Meanwhile, another Russian player, Anastasia Potapova, said on Instagram that she would be unable to play in the Hamburg European Open because a visa was not granted on time.

"Very sad to announce that I'm not going to participate in Hamburg this year, due to difficulties with visa," she said. "Me and my team applied for it on time, but unfortunately it was delayed."

Potapova was warned by the WTA earlier this year after wearing a Spartak Moscow football shirt on court.

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