Lesia Tsurenko: Italy, a Sanctuary for a Ukrainian Tennis Star
Lesia Tsurenko, the 34-year-old Ukrainian tennis star, has a deep affinity for Italy that extends beyond its culinary delights. Her connection to the country dates back to her impressive performance in the 2012 Billie Jean King Cup, where she earned both points for Ukraine against Italy.
Tsurenko’s bond with Italy grew stronger under the guidance of Italian coach Adriano Albanesi, who helped her achieve notable results, including a quarterfinal berth at the 2018 US Open. Amidst the ongoing war in her homeland, Tsurenko has found solace and sanctuary in Italy, where she trains at the Piatti Tennis Center.
“I enjoy every second,” Tsurenko said. “I enjoy my beautiful morning coffee and the view that I have in Liguira, where I live. It’s just amazing to have this feeling and be able to relax and calm down.”
This sense of tranquility aided her in her hard-fought victory over Donna Vekic in the first round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Despite Vekic’s formidable serve, Tsurenko’s resilience and determination prevailed in a two-hour, 39-minute battle.
“I’m so jealous of the serve that Donna has!” Tsurenko exclaimed. “She’s serving unbelievably good, and it’s so tough because you don’t have a rhythm to play against someone like her.”
Tsurenko’s next challenge will be against fellow Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, who holds a special place in her heart for Italy as the 2023 Rome finalist. Tsurenko hopes to draw inspiration from the tournament’s unique atmosphere and the Italian delicacies she has come to love.
“This tournament, if you look around, you’ll see trees and statues, and I think just everything makes this tournament so special,” Tsurenko said. “All the players enjoy food, and all of the players enjoy touristic mode because all of the hotels are in the center of the city … and you can enjoy the time off [from] the tournament.”