[mn73]

Am I the only one that thinks this is totally weird!?! Pretending you are Swiss doesn't stop anyone who knows tennis knowing you are American and seems quite disrespectful to her country considering what happened in September.


Woman without a country

American asks to be listed as Swiss on draw sheet
Click here for more on this story
Posted: Wednesday October 17, 2001 10:28 AM


ZURICH (Reuters) -- American Kimberly Po is playing under the Swiss flag at the Swisscom Challenge this week as a precaution following the attacks in the United States.

Po, who is partnering French veteran Nathalie Tauziat in the doubles at the $1.1 million event, asked the WTA to list her as Swiss on the entry draw, despite not possessing a Swiss passport or citizenship.

The link the 29-year-old Californian has to the tiny alpine nation comes from her marriage to Oliver Messerli, who holds dual Swiss-South African citzenship.

"I feel a lot safer, a lot more secure after everything that happened on September 11," said Po.

The WTA said in the interests of security it was allowing players, who can legally change nationalities, to be temporarily listed as being from another country on the draw list.

 

[Jarrett]

quite disrespectful...ITA!

 

[GoSandrine]

How disgraceful!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0">

Stay in Swtizerland, Kimmy.....we'll manage just fine without your support.

 

[Infiniti2001]

Methinks ms. po is looking for some attention... I mean, why change nationality because of the goings on only to have the WTA publicize it?? So much for proud to be an American <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: Infiniti2001 ]

 

[justenis]

Actually I understand (not agree with) the logic, what I don't understand is publicizing what can only be effective if kept secret.

 

[Volcana]

I'm an American and I totally support what she did. She's trying to remain ALIVE, and still show up at tournaments. I've notice a few people are upset at the Americans withdrawing from so many tournaments. Kim Po showed up. If she's afraid, well, wouldn't you be?

I don't feel she's disrespected my country in any way. And I rather doubt that SHE is the one publicizing it. This is about life and death, NOT sports. To misquote Andre Agassi, take your last paycheck and go buy some perspective.

Kim Po is trying to avoid getting killed. Is it really that hard to understand?

 

[rated_next]

Volcano: nicely said

 

[GoSandrine]

So we're all supposed to wither and run for cover???.....gimme a break! <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Volcana, this type of reaction is just what the terrorists are looking for. Stand up and be proud to be an American or go live in another country.

 

[ys]

What do you want her to do? Go jogging on Zurich's street with US flag?

 

[GoSandrine]

No, just represent her country

 

[ys]

Tell it to Williams sisters, Davenport and Capriati. There is only one tournament where
players represent anything but themselves, and that's Fed Cup. In all other tournaments country is irrelevant.

 

[GoSandrine]

Obviously it was VERY relevant to Kimberly in this tournament

 

[Infiniti2001]

If po is so scared , she should have stayed home... BTW it's not like she is this famous tennis star... How many people out there know who she is??? hmmmm <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[Barrie_Dude]

Mark, quite correct! It is bizarre!

 

[tenn_ace]

bissare and stupid... I'm sure she is not and was not under any danger playing under US flag... Alex proved it.

<IMG SRC="smilies/freaked.gif" border="0">

 

[Scotso]

The WTA and the Zurich organizers are taking a lot of precautions to protect the players.

Americans need to remember that they aren't the only ones getting attacked by terrorists... France and other countries are also being harrassed by these cowards.

I don't, however, believe that we need to get so angry at Kimberly Po for this... she just wanted to be listed as Swiss on the draw sheet... she didn't ask for Swiss citizenship.

 

[Scotso]

GoSandrine, we normally see eye-to-eye, but on this I must disagree. Pride in your country is a good thing... if good things come of it. But the type of pride that would alienate people simply because they do not share your views... that's a totally different, destructive thing. After all... isn't America supposed to be all about people with different views living together in peace?

You do realize that the majority of the people in this country are heterosexual. If they were to say... "be proud to be a heterosexual" and attempt to force those who were different into another country... that would affect you, wouldn't it?

 

[Dawn Marie]

Kim what was the point? I mean really nobody knows who you are, and if they did they would know that your REALLY an American anyway and thus kill you. So why go through stupid bizarre actions that are only gonna get your once icognito name on the front page of the newspapers. Girl! surely you know how the media works and that it would work against you. This move actually put her more in danger. Not that she is in any danger.. These terrorist imho don't want to kill mere women anyway. It would be Agassi or Pete that would get the death wish.

 

[Randy H]

I personally don't think that Kim's actions would be my choice, but I don't think it's anything to get worked up over or criticize. She made a choice that she feels will help her to cope with the events that have occurred while also being able to try and maintain her career. So be it. Everyone deals with things their own way, and if she feels that changing her nationality on something as simple as a drawsheet will help her feel more secure then so be it. Not the end of the world.

I agree totally with what Volcana said <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Justin]

When Monica played the Italian Open in 1992, she was a Yugoslav but demanded to be listed as from Florida and also refused to permit the Yugoslav national anthem be played before her matches because of political unrest in her country.

Why the bruhaha because Kim is doing the opposite? Maybe she is scared? Maybe her husband asked her to do so and she is doing it for him? Who knows?