Wimbledon officials return serve on their ban
The All England Tennis Club has denied accusations of discrimination and defended its controversial decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon this summer. It is nearly a week since the ban’s announcement threw tennis into a civil war, with the Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association and Russian world No 8 Andrey Rublev accusing the AELTC of discrimination, and the Belarus Tennis Federation threatening legal action.
Speaking at the AELTC’S spring press conference, chairman Ian Hewitt said it had been “bound” by the framework offered by the Government, which last month said it would want any Russian players to denounce Vladimir Putin’s regime as well as the war in Ukraine to compete at Wimbledon.
Hewitt denied discrimination and said the option of players signing anti-putin declarations was taken off the table due to “safety” concerns. “It is not discrimination in the form that is being said. It is a considered view reached on what is the right and responsible decision in all the circumstances,” Hewitt said.
AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton said: “When the Government issued the directive guidance, the very prospect of direct entry into the tournament based on ranking points simply was removed from the table because already there was the requirement to provide a declaration. So that’s the context where we’ve made the decision.”
Wimbledon, along with all LTA grass-court events, is the first in tennis to block Russian and Belarusian player involvement since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
It means a number of top players will miss out on Wimbledon, including Rublev and compatriot Daniil Medvedev, who is No 2 in the men’s rankings, and world No 4 Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, on the women’s side.
The AELTC confirmed it had consulted affected players throughout the decision-making process but, as reported last week, the idea of Wimbledon being “used to support the propaganda machine of the Russian regime” was deemed too great a risk. The ban, though, applies only to players and Russian media.
Russian and Belarusian coaches with other players are allowed to attend, and spectators from both countries will be welcome.
There is also no ban on Russian flags being brought into the Wimbledon grounds.
Away from the ban, the AELTC also confirmed yesterday that there were no plans for Covid restrictions at this year’s Championships.
It means 20-time major champion Djokovic — who is not vaccinated — will be allowed to play.
— Telegraph Group UK