Prominent Russian tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova told Sputnik on Thursday that she believed in sports being independent from politics, commenting on her problems with getting a US visa
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th July, 2019) Prominent Russian tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova told Sputnik on Thursday that she believed in sports being independent from politics, commenting on her problems with getting a US visa.Earlier in the day, Kuznetsova said that she would miss the Washington Open tournament, which was won by her last year, over visa-related problems. The US Department of State refused to comment on the situation, saying that the information about visas was confidential in the United States.
"It is difficult to name the reason. This is the first time I am facing such a situation. I have always applied for a visa in Moscow and had no problems. Since when I was 16 years old, I have always participated in the tournaments on the US soil. I would not like to give any interpretations. I believe that the sports are far from politics," Kuznetsova said.
The athlete stressed that she was getting support from her family and friends.
Kuznetsova also said that she had sent notifications to the Women's Tennis Association and the United States Tennis Association as well as to the US Consulate but received the same response: that her case was being considered.
The athlete added that she had no illusions but pointed out that after the morning announcement she got a message from the consulate with a call to bring her passport.
The United States has significantly extended processing time of visa applications for Russian citizens after Moscow and Washington exchanged several rounds of expulsion of diplomats and subsequent cuts of consular staff last year.
