Anastasia Potapova given formal warning by WTA over ‘not acceptable’ Spartak Moscow shirt at Indian Wells

The WTA has issued a formal warning to Anastasia Potapova after she wore a Spartak Moscow football shirt before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells this week.

Russian Potapova said afterwards she had supported Spartak Moscow since she was 13 and didn’t see any provocation in it.

The WTA has said in a statement: “Regarding the Russian soccer team shirt, the WTA has formally warned the player that this was not acceptable nor an appropriate action.

“We do not expect to see any reoccurrence of this in the future.”

Russian and Belarusian players have been permitted to play on the WTA Tour without their country’s flag since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago.

“First of all, I definitely do feel sorry for all the Ukrainian players and what they go through,” he said.

“For sure, the situation with Tsurenko, I don’t know details. It’s more for her and for maybe a little bit [Aryna] Sabalenka to answer because I actually didn’t know about this till the next day.

“Talking about top players, of course, we have a responsibility and it depends how every person, individual, will do with it and will hold with it. I always said the same, I’m for peace all over the world, to be honest, and that’s all I can say.”

Swiatek plays Sorana Cirstea in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells after beating Emma Raducanu.

Asked about Potapova following her win over Raducanu, Swiatek said: “”To be honest, I was surprised.

“I thought the player realised that she should not, even if she is a fan of the team, show her views in this way at such times.

“I’ve talked to the WTA, and in a way, I found out that there should be less such situations because they will explain to other players that you can’t promote any Russian teams these days, which reassured me a bit.”

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