Wimbledon bans Russian and Belarusian players, but ATP, WTA slam 'unfair' move

AFP

Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 tournament in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but ATP and WTA organizers branded the move "unfair" and "very disappointing" on Wednesday.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which runs Wimbledon, said it was acting to "limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible."

Russian men's world No.2 Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian female world No.4 Aryna Sabalenka – a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year – are the leading players affected by the ban.

"Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible," an AELTC statement said.

The Lawn Tennis Association has also banned Russian or Belarusian players from competing in other British grass-court tournaments, including Wimbledon warm-up events at Queen's Club and Eastbourne.

Players from Russia and Belarus have been able to compete on the ATP and WTA tours since the conflict started, but they were not allowed to use their national flags.

The ITF had already banned both countries' teams from the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

ATP and WTA bosses claim the Wimbledon ban is discriminatory and sets a damaging precedent.

"We believe that today's unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from this year's British grass-court swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game," an ATP statement said.

"Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings.

"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 based on the ATP Rankings."

The WTA said the decision was "neither fair nor justified."

"We are very disappointed in today's announcement," the WTA said in a statement.

"A fundamental principle of the WTA is that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination."

Djokovic lambasts 'crazy' decision

Men's world No.1 Novak Djokovic, currently playing in the ATP event in Belgrade, also criticized the decision.

"I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy," said the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

"The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it (war). When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good."

Others hit by the ban are Russia's Andrey Rublev, who is currently eighth in the ATP rankings, while his compatriot Karen Khachanov is in 26th place.

Russian world No.15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus are two of the other top female players who will miss the grass-court Grand Slam.

Wimbledon, the most high-profile of tennis's four Grand Slam events, runs from June 27 to July 10 this year.

Russia reacted angrily to the reports, deeming it "unacceptable."

"Once again they simply turn athletes into hostages to political prejudice, political intrigues," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"This is unacceptable. Taking into account that Russia is a very strong tennis country, our athletes are at the top of world rankings, the competition itself will suffer from their removal."