OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian Embassy in the United States sent a note of protest to the State Department against the background of problems with obtaining a US visa by Russian tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova. The diplomatic mission said this on its Facebook page on Thursday.

"We sent a note of protest to the State Department and demanded a discontinuation of the discriminatory policy regarding the issuance of visas to Russian participants in international events", the report said. According to the embassy, Kuznetsova was "another victim" of protracted administrative procedures "while obtaining a US visa." "Outraged by the ongoing practice of obstructing the participation of our athletes in major competitions taking place in the United States", added to the diplomatic mission.

Kuznetsova on Thursday reported that she was forced to withdraw from the tournament in Washington because of problems with obtaining a US visa. The tournament will be held from July 29 to August 4, last year Kuznetsova won it. Earlier, the athlete said that since February she is waiting for a visa. The question remains Kuznetsova’s participation in the last Grand Slam tournament of the season - the US Open, which will run from August 26 to September 7.

In total, 34-year-old Kuznetsova has 18 victories in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments, she has twice won Grand Slam tournaments (US Open - 2004, French Open - 2009). In the ranking of WTA, it now ranks 108th.

“Friends, the situation with the US visa is forcing to withdraw from the tournament in Washington, unfortunately, I cann't go there and try to defend the title. This situation has developed for a career (not short) for the first time, I really hope for its early resolution”, - wrote 34-year-old Russian woman.