Ban KO’s Med to measure
Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov have welcomed Wimbledon’s decision to overturn the ban on Russian and Belarusian players.
Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association announced on Friday that athletes from the two countries who sign neutrality agreements would be allowed to play in British events this summer.
Medvedev, the leading Russian player who plays in his fifth consecutive final at the Miami Open today against Italy’s Jannik Sinner, said: “I don’t know what the crowd reaction [at Wimbledon] is going to be.
“I cannot control it but I will be happy to play there in front of all the people.”
Khachanov, beaten by Medvedev in Friday’s Miami semis, said :“All the Russian and Belarusian players said before that we’d really like to play there.”
■ Duncan Scott is ready to battle through the fatigue that’s dogged him for months and fight for his spot at this summer’s World Swimming Championships.
The British Championships – doubling up as the UK trials – begin in Sheffield on Tuesday and six- t ime Olympic medal winner Scott knows he will need to earn his slot.
The Alloa swimmer, 25, has been suffering a deficiency that’s knocked his immune system for six. But he said: “It’s been a really good few months with a lot of training and high volume.”
■ Steve Timoney insists the “world’s our oyster” after Caledonia Gladiators ended a 20-year trophy drought by lifting the BBL Trophy.
But the tech millionaire club owner won’t be rushed into attempting a conquest of Europe. Timoney said: “We won’t put the teams in Europe until we prove that our resources make us a dominant team in the BBL and WBBL. We want to get in and stay in Europe.”
The Scots wi l l bid to strengthen their quest for a top-four finish in the BBL with a win over close rivals Manchester Giants today.