THE ATP AND WTA HAVE CRITICISED the unprecedented decision by Wimbledon authorities to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 tournament, in what is claimed by them to be a “strong” response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which runs Wimbledon, on Wednesday offered a brazenly hypocritical justification of its unilateral action, coming as it does in the backdrop of the continued import of petroleum products from Russia by the UK and its European allies. AELTC said it was acting to “limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible”.
While AELTC’s actions may get it some brownie points on the PR front, the implications of its decision have only negative portents to offer.
Incidentally, AELTC’s unilateral action is the first time players have been banned on the grounds of nationality since the immediate post-World War II era when German and Japanese players were excluded.
Both ATP and WTA organisers branded the move “unfair” and “very disappointing” on Wednesday.
“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 principal 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
Among individual tennis players, it was men’s World Number 1 Novak Djokovic who showed statesmanship in publicly criticising AELTC’s decision. It bears noting that it benefits Djokovic that Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who is World No.2 in the rankings, has been barred from Wimbledon as far as the year-end race for No.1 is concerned.
Djokovic, who grew up in war-torn Serbia, said the athletes had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict.
“I will always condemn war, I will never support war being myself a child of war,” Djokovic told reporters at the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 event in Belgrade.
“I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history.
“However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy.
“When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.”
Medvedev and Belarusian women’s World No.4 Aryna Sabalenka – a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year – are the leading players affected by the ban.
Among 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.
