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Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova confirmed on social media that she was among the players that were not allowed to enter the Czech Republic for this week's WTA event in Prague. On Friday, it was reported that a Russian WTA player was stopped at the Prague airport and denied entry into the country.
Following that situation, the Prague organizers advised other Russian and Belarusian players that not traveling to the Czech Republic was probably in their best interest. Pavlyuchenkova, a 2021 French Open finalist, was hoping to play in Prague before heading to North America for the summer hard court swing.
But Pavlyuchenkova's initial plans were halted and the Russian will turn her focus on Cincinnati and the US Open. "Hi guys! As you saw the previous post, I will not be able to participate in Prague next week. I continue my preparation on hard courts for US Series now.
See you in Cincinnati and US Open," Pavlyuchenkova wrote on Instagram.
Pavlyuchenkova was intending to play in Prague
After Pavlyuchenkova and other Russian and Belarusian players were denied playing in Prague, the WTA released a statement.
"The WTA emphatically condemns the war in Ukraine and the reprehensible actions of the Russian government. The WTA also continues to support the Tour’s Ukrainian athletes – as well as all WTA athletes – who face immense challenges as professional athletes while many of their loved ones and their country face attacks from Russia.Individual WTA players whose nationality is Russian/Belarusian continue to compete on the Tour on a neutral basis.
Despite their neutrality, some WTA players are being denied by Czech government authorities the ability to compete at the WTA 250 event scheduled to be held in Prague next week.WTA rules state that all players must be allowed to compete on the WTA based solely on merit, without discrimination.
We will continue to review the situation as we factor important considerations around these complex geopolitical issues," the WTA's statement read.