Anett Kontaveit in second round action Australian Open Tennis 2022 Melbourne Park, Australia Day 4 Thursday 20 January 2022 PHOTO BY KARL WINTER
WTA No. 2 Anett Kontaveit said she had to part ways with Dmitry Tursunov due to her coach’s Russian passport.
The Estonian told local media of the problem, explaining that sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant that Tursunov was unable to travel due to his nationality.
With Russians now the global outlaws, a change had to be made.
“Because he has a Russian passport, it is very difficult for him to get visas at the moment, he can’t come with me to many tournaments,” she said.
“I still feel I need a coach who can accompany me and who does not have so many practical problems.”
Kontaveit added: “He could not come to America with me in March, and now he had a visa problem with England.
“The visa process was very complicated for him.”
The pair began their collaboration last August, which coincided with a run to a Top 10 ranking last season and the St Petersburg title in February, a few weeks before the Russian invasion kicked off.
Main photo:- Anett Kontaveit in action at Australian Open 2022 – by Karl Winter International Sports Fotos Ltd
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