Svetlana Kuznetsova says "the light at the end of the tunnel" is finally appearing as the former two-time Grand Slam champion is thrilled to see Russia gradually returning to the international sporting stage.
After Russia and Belarus were banned from all team and international events in 2022, they also weren't allowed to participate in team events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, individual athletes from Russia and Belarus received the green light to compete as neutrals - tennis was one of the sports that fell into that category.
Then, last week, the International Olympic Committee encouraged sports federations to allow Russian and Belarusian youth teams to compete with national flags and anthems. When it comes to the Summer Games slated to take place in Los Angeles in 2028, the discussions are ongoing, but there are positive signs for Russia in that department as well.
Kuznetsova, who won the Fed Cup (now known as the Billie Jean King Cup) three times with Russia, hopes everything soon returns to normalcy when it comes to Russian sports.
Kuznetsova: I hope our athletes will soon be able to participate in all international competitions under the Russian flag
"I'm seeing more and more news in the media: in some places, our athletes are gradually being allowed to compete under the flag and anthem, while in others, they're being given partial clearance. Light is finally beginning to appear at the end of the tunneland that's good, although, of course, we want much more and clarity for everyone. Well, if the lifting of restrictions has already begun, then I hope that our athletes will soon be able to participate in all international competitions under their own flag," the former world No. 2 said, via Championat.
Kuznetsova played on the WTA Tour between 2000 and 2021. She won 18 titles in singles and was widely regarded as one of the best Russian tennis players in the 2000s.
