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The Kozerki Open Challenger event has changed a footnote on the site after previously advising Russian and Belarusian players not to sign up for the Challenger event in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland. In mid-July, some were left surprised after noticing that there was a Polish Challenger event openly telling Russian and Belarusian players that they were not very welcome to their tournament.
"Considering the situation in Ukraine and Russia's armed aggression on these lands, please do not sign up for the KOZERKI OPEN - ATP Challenger 100 tournament, players representing countries such as Russia and Belarus. Players representing Russia and Belarus will not be welcome at the tournament and in the Kozerki complex.
We do not guarantee places at the Academy for these people," a footnote from the tournament's website read in mid-July.
The Kozerki Open Challenger updates its footnote
"The organizer of the Kozerki Open tournament would like to express support for the struggle for life and freedom that Ukraine and the Ukrainian people are waging," the new footnote on the site reads.
The news of this comes after Russia's Vera Zvonareva was denied entry into Poland for a WTA event in Warsaw.Update - that footnote is no longer on the tournament website. Instead, we have the flag of Ukraine and "the Kozerki Open organizer wants to express support for the battle for life and freedom that Ukraine is fighting" pic.twitter.com/WFYJpDtPoM — Damian Kust (@damiankust) July 21, 2023
On Friday, Zvonareva landed in Poland but the following day was deported from the country. “The Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player from entering Poland. 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," the Polish interior ministry said in a statement. The WTA also released a statement on Saturday, saying they would investigate the Zvonareva case.
"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," the WTA said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Kozerki Open Challenger event is set to take place between August 14-19 in Grodzisk Mazowiecki.