"Feels like a slap in the face" - Tennis fans lash out at Latvian government for cutting off Jelena Ostapenko's financial aid for no fault of her own

Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko faces a major blow with the Latvian government deciding to cut off the 25-year-old's financial support to compete in any tournaments that allow Russian or Belarusian players. This unexpected move has left tennis fans stunned.The Latvian Olympic Committee on Tuesday, March 7, decided that Ostapenko, along with fellow tennis players Daniela Vismane, Darja Semenistaja and two Latvian cyclists, will not receive their monthly Olympian payments from March. Athletes will only receive payments when they represent Latvia in tournaments like the Billie Jean King Cup or the World Cycling Championships where Russians and Belarusians are banned.Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Russia and Belarus have faced global condemnation across all fronts. Ostapenko and her peers are feeling the effects of it as well, now effectively being barred from participating in tournaments that allow players from Russia and Belarus. The Latvian government's decision has incited angered reactions from tennis fans.&quot;Welcome to my country. Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players are Yea,&quot; one fan tweeted.Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea1479Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuP&quot;they just want a reason to cut her off, maybe she pissed off someone important,&quot; one fan speculated.sad andrey rublev@bvbgurrrlthey just want a reason to cut her off, maybe she pissed off someone important twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea1479Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPthey just want a reason to cut her off, maybe she pissed off someone important twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…See some more fan reactions to the news below:Gabe@gcruz154@BwehRublev Thats really sad for Penko and after everything she has done for tennis in Latvia, this feels like a slap in the face11@BwehRublev Thats really sad for Penko and after everything she has done for tennis in Latvia, this feels like a slap in the faceYonis@lastdancesznW t f twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea29Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPW t f twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…hideousflops | muchová injury free challenge@aveblanca4this makes no sense omg twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea1479Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPthis makes no sense omg 💀 twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Davos Tennischannel@Davorin1902Wow... I feel so sorry for all the athletes who just want to compete and represent Latvia. twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea1479Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPWow... I feel so sorry for all the athletes who just want to compete and represent Latvia. twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…JP 🇦🇷 ⭐⭐⭐@NardinPedroTheir hate of anything related with Russians makes them attack their own athletes, ridiculous stuff, pathetic 🏻🏻🏻 twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea59Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPTheir hate of anything related with Russians makes them attack their own athletes, ridiculous stuff, pathetic 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…supreme leader of glorious norrienation@rogerchokerer………ukrainians are playing those same events twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea339Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuP………ukrainians are playing those same events twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Who the hell is Kamil? 🇪🇪🇪🇸🇦🇹@anettsplantPeak stupidity... like, do they expect her to play Wimbledon, other UK tourneys, and Tallinn Slam only? twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea79Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPPeak stupidity... like, do they expect her to play Wimbledon, other UK tourneys, and Tallinn Slam only? 💀💀💀 twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Ivana Simeonova@IvanaSimeonova2When the anti-Russia activism reaches levels where you cut off your own athletes… like wtf twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea149Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPWhen the anti-Russia activism reaches levels where you cut off your own athletes… like wtf 😂 twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…💙💛@youngnnikare these bitches clinically fucking insane. by their logic penko should just halt her tennis career at this point due to a painfully cringe decision of performative activism. boycott the olympics, i can understand that, but ukrainian athletes ALSO COMPETE AT THESE INTL EVENTS twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea301Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPare these bitches clinically fucking insane. by their logic penko should just halt her tennis career at this point due to a painfully cringe decision of performative activism. boycott the olympics, i can understand that, but ukrainian athletes ALSO COMPETE AT THESE INTL EVENTS twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…abbiemc@abbiemcIf there’s one thing various sporting and, for example, Eurovision boycotts have taught us it’s that activism has the most impact when you actually show up. Penko is supporting Ukrainian players and doing her country proud. No one (but us) will care if she’s not there twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea99Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPIf there’s one thing various sporting and, for example, Eurovision boycotts have taught us it’s that activism has the most impact when you actually show up. Penko is supporting Ukrainian players and doing her country proud. No one (but us) will care if she’s not there twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Rio 🐌 | Employed and Unhappy Era@impetigorxhashtag #latviangirl is dying without a cause twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea89Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPhashtag #latviangirl is dying without a cause 💔💔 twitter.com/BwehRublev/sta…emily@andreyrublevsuhhhh what the fuckkkk? twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Krista@BwehRublevWelcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea49Welcome to my country Where your top tennis player who always expresses how proud she is to represent the country, loves it puts it on the damn map no longer gets any financial support from the country because she competes in competitions where Russian/Belarusian players areYea https://t.co/MhGj1voEuPuhhhh what the fuckkkk? twitter.com/bwehrublev/sta…Jelena Ostapenko into to the second round of the Indian Wells OpenJelena Ostapenko at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi OpenLatvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko is through to the second round (Round of 64) at the Indian Wells Open, which began on Monday, March 6.The 25-year-old is gunning for her first WTA 1000 tournament trophy at the prestigious tournament in California, USA. Ostapenko will continue her campaign on Saturday, March 11 against Russian tennis player Aliaksandra Sasnovich.The Latvian's best result at Indian Wells came in 2021 when she reached the semifinals but was ousted by Belarusian tennis star Victoria Azarenka in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Last year, she fell to American Shelby Rogers in the second round in straight sets.In 2017, an unseeded Ostapenko won her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open by defeating third-seeded Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. This marked the first time a Latvian player won a Grand Slam title. It also marked the first time an unseeded women's player had claimed the French Major since 1993.Jelena Ostapenko, who turned pro in 2012, reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 in March 2018.