WTA to investigate as Vera Zvonareva blocked from entering Poland

The Russian travelled to Poland to compete at the Warsaw Open, but was denied entry to the country on arrival at the border

Vera Zvonareva competes in Doha 2020 Zuma / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

July 22, 2023

Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva has been denied entry to Poland, with the Polish interior ministry citing “reasons of state security and public safety.”

The former Wimbledon and US Open finalist was due to compete at the Warsaw Open, but was barred from entering the country on arrival at the Polish border.

Poland’s interior ministry said that Zvonareva is on a list of people considered “undesirable” in the country.

“The Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player from entering Poland,” read a statement by the Polish interior ministry on Saturday.

“Vera Zvonareva, using a visa issued by France, tried to get into our country on a flight from Belgrade to Warsaw.

“After arriving from Serbia, the tennis player stayed in the transit zone of Warsaw Chopin Airport and today, after 12:00, she flew to Podgorica.”

WTA “evaluating the issue”

The organisers of the Warsaw Open have not yet commented, but the WTA have announced that they are aware of the issue and will be conducting further investigations to ascertain why Zvonareva was blocked from entering the country.

“The WTA is aware of the situation involving Vera Zvonareva in Warsaw,” read a statement from the WTA.

“The safety and wellbeing 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 a staunch ally of Ukraine during Russia’s invasion of the country, and has been refusing entry to people who support the actions of Russia and Belarus.

However, while Zvonareva’s stance on the war is not explicitly known, she was seen wearing a visor hat with the words “no war” while competing at the Miami Open in 2022.

Potapova – another Russain player – has also announced that she will be unable to play at the European Open in Hamburg because her visa did not arrive in 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.”

Zvonareva has yet to comment on the events at the Polish border.

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