UPDATE: Tennis players from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to play at Wimbledon this year because of the war in Ukraine, after the iconic tournament made a bombshell decision that has divided the sport.
Among the prominent men’s players affected by the ban are reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who recently reached No.1 in the ATP rankings and is currently No.2, and No.8 Andrey Rublev.
The women’s players affected include No.4 Aryna Sabalenka, who was a Wimbledon semifinalist last year; Victoria Azarenka, a former No.1 who has won the Australian Open twice; and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the French Open runner-up last year.
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Medvedev, Rublev and Pavlyuchenkova are from Russia; Sabalenka and Azarenka are from Belarus.
Wimbledon begins on June 27.
Wimbledon’s move signals the first time a tennis tournament has told players from Russia and Belarus they are not welcome — and the ATP was quick to criticise the All England Club for what the men’s tennis tour called a “unilateral decision” and “unfair.”
“Our sport is proud to operate on the fundamental principles of merit and fairness, where players compete as individuals to earn their place in tournaments,” the ATP said in a statement, adding that the decision “has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game.”
The WTA also said it was “very disappointed” with the decision.
“As the WTA has consistently stated, individual athletes should not be penalised or prevented from competing due to where they are from, or the decisions made by the governments of their countries,” the women’s tour said in a statement.
“The WTA will be evaluating its next steps and what actions may be taken regarding these decisions.”
As expected the decision divided members of the playing group.
Speaking after his three-set win over 50th ranked countryman Laslo Djere at the Serbian Open, Novak Djokovic hit out at Wimbledon’s “crazy” decision.
“I will always be the first one to condemn the war,” he told reporters in Belgrade. “As a child of war, I know what kind of emotional trauma a war leaves. Us in Serbia, we know what was happening here in 1999.
“Ordinary people always suffer – we’ve had lots of wars in the Balkans. That being said, I cannot support the Wimbledon decision. It’s not the athletes’ fault. When politics interfere with sport, it usually doesn’t turn out well.”
Martina Navratilova, who won Wimbledon a record nine times between 1978 and 1990 and whose wife is Russian, also condemned the decision.
“Exclusion like this, through no fault of these players, is not the way to go,” she told LBC Radio.
“Tennis is such a democratic sport it is difficult when you see politics destroy it. On the women’s side practically 10 per cent of the field is not allowed to play.
“This decision was made in a vacuum by the All England Club.
“I understand their predicament but I just don’t think they’re seeing the big picture in a more global way. But I am devastated by the decision, quite frankly.”
https://twitter.com/johnhmillman/status/1516818792185221122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/marta_kostyuk/status/1516844443894259715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
However, Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk expressed a difference of opinion with Australian tennis player John Millman, who said Wimbledon “should donate their entire profit” instead of banning players.
“Ukraine needs peace and freedom that we are dying for right now. Not money. Anyone who thinks that decision like this one is targeting players personally is pretty selfish. Players are great part of propaganda and big example to their fans. Silence is a betrayal,” she wrote in response to the Aussie’s tweet.
Earlier, Kostyuk called the silence of fellow tennis players as a “betrayal” and backed the decision to ban players.
“In times of crisis, silence means agreeing with what is happening,” she wrote in a statement addressed to the ‘Tennis Community’ and published on her Twitter account.
“The very silence of those who choose to remain that way right now is unbearable as it leads to the continuation of murder in our homeland.
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal, and that time is now.”
https://twitter.com/marta_kostyuk/status/1516757492516196354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The seven groups that run the sport around the world decided March 1 that players from those countries would be allowed to compete in WTA, ATP and Grand Slam tournaments but not under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus. Those two nations also were kicked out of the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup team competitions; Russia had been the reigning champion in both.
The French Open, which starts on May 22, will be the first Grand Slam tournament held since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and is expected to permit Russian and Belarussian players to compete — just as so-called “neutral” athletes who may not represent their countries.
The U.S. Tennis Association, which runs the U.S. Open, said Wednesday it has not made a decision about whether players from Russia and Belarus can compete at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, which begins on Aug. 29.
The All England Club said that if “circumstances change materially between now and June,” it would “respond accordingly.”
“We recognise that this is hard on the individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime,” All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said.
“We have very carefully considered the alternative measures that might be taken within the UK Government guidance but, given the high profile environment of The Championships, the importance of not allowing sport to be used to promote the Russian regime and our broader concerns for public and player (including family) safety, we do not believe it is viable to proceed on any other basis at The Championships.”
Some current and former tennis players from Ukraine — including two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina and the recently retired Sergiy Stakhovsky — put up a statement on Twitter on Wednesday that called on the WTA, ATP and International Tennis Federation to ask players representing Russia and Belarus whether they support the invasion of Ukraine.
“In times of crisis, silence means agreeing with what is happening,” the posts said. “We noticed that some Russian and Belarusian players at some point vaguely mentioned the war, but never clearly stating that Russia and Belarus started it on the territory of Ukraine.”
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