Russian star Veronika Kudermetova forced to cover logo at French Open

A Russian tennis star has come under fire after French Open officials were forced to step in ahead of her Grand Slam match.

Russian tennis player Veronika Kudermetova was forced to cover up at the French Open after Roland Garros officials stepped in.

The 11th seeded star was knocked out in the opening round by Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, but remains in the hunt for Grand Slam silverware in the doubles.

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The 26-year-old athlete, however was forced to cover up for her matches on clay with one logo not allowed during the Grand Slam.

Kudermetova, who is endorsed by Russian oil and gas company Tatneft, was photographed at Roland Garros without the logo on her wardrobe, although it was seen at different tournaments in recent months, including the Madrid Open.

Veronika Kudermetova played in Paris without the Tatneft patch. I asked Roland Garros, because she played in Rome and Stuttgart with patch. "Any commercial or other identification that violates governmental / TV regulations is prohibited. Tatneft is on this list and not allowed”. pic.twitter.com/EkN5Ks0LGH

— Dominik Senkowski (@dsenkowski07) June 1, 2023

When pressed by Polish publication Gazeta on the matter, Roland Garros stated, “Any commercial or other identification that violates governmental / TV regulations is prohibited. Tatneft is on this list and not allowed,” according to reporter Dominik Senkowski.

A former subsidiary of Tatneft has been sanctioned by the European Union in regard to its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Guardian reported in May.

The logo in Rome. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

No logo in Paris. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

The organisation supplied tires to the Russian army, according to the report.

Kudermetova, who is ranked No. 11 on the WTA Tour, stated last month she would remove the mention in order to compete at Wimbledon this summer.

“I think for Wimbledon, it’s not allowed to play with the badge from Russia, I know that,” she said.

Players from both Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete at Wimbledon this year as “neutral” athletes following a ban previously enforced in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Further, those players will have to abide by certain conditions, notably prohibiting the “expressions of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in various forms and prohibit entry by players receiving funding from the Russian and/or Belarusian states (including sponsorship from companies operated or controlled by the states) in relation to their participation in The Championship,” according to the All England Club.