Rublev hits Wimbledon ‘discrimination’

World No.8 Andrey Rublev blasted Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players as “complete discrimination”.

And Belarus officials said the decision will only “incite hatred” and threatened legal action to have the sanction overturned.

“The reasons they (Wimbledon) gave us had no sense, they were illogical,” said Rublev on the sidelines of the Belgrade ATP event. “What is happening now is complete discrimination against us.”

Wimbledon on Wednesday banned all Russian and Belarusian players from taking part in this year’s grand slam event in response to the invasion of

Ukraine. The decision means Rublev as well as compatriot and world No.2 Daniil Medvedev and women’s fourthranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus sit out the June 27-July 10 tournament.

“Banning Russian or Belarusian players will not change anything,” said Rublev, who said redirecting Wimbledon’s prize fund, which last year totalled $45.6m, would have a more positive effect.

“To give all the prize money to humanitarian help, to the families who are suffering, to the kids who are suffering, I think that would do something.

“Tennis will, in that case, be the first and only sport who donates that amount of money and it will be Wimbledon so they will take all the glory.”

The Belarus Tennis Federation (BTF) accused UK government officials of “incompetence and ignorance”.

“The BTF categorically condemns the decision taken by the organisers of Wimbledon to suspend Belarusian and Russian tennis players,” it said.

“Such destructive actions in no way contribute to the resolution of conflicts but only incite hatred and intolerance on a national basis.”

US tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King said she “cannot support” the Wimbledon decision.