Murray fires a volley at Wimbledon player ban
ANDY Murray is “not supportive” of the Government’s plan to ban Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon but acknowledged there was no “right answer” to the difficult situation.
Wimbledon officials reiterated their position last week, saying a directive from the Government regarding the invasion of Ukraine had left them with no viable alternative but to refuse entries from players from the two countries.
Murray, who is donating all of his prize money this season to humanitarian relief in Ukraine, said the guidance from the Government “was not helpful” and could potentially put the families of players at risk.
The former world number one said ahead of his first-round match against Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Open: “I’m not supportive of players being banned.
“My understanding of the guidance was Russians and Belarusians can play if they sign a declaration that they’re against the war and against the Russian regime.
“I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel if something happened to one of the players or their families as a result but I don’t think there’s a right answer.
“I have spoken to some of the Russian players. I’ve spoken to some of the Ukrainian players.
“I feel really bad for the players who aren’t allowed to play and I get that it will seem unfair to them.
“I also know some of the people who work at Wimbledon and I know how difficult a position they were in.
“I feel for everyone, I feel for the players who can’t play and I don’t support one side or the other.”
There has been some support for Wimbledon’s position, especially from Ukrainians within tennis, but the reaction has been largely negative with the ATP and WTA both deciding whether to impose penalties.
Rafael Nadal, who has won two of his 21 grand slam singles titles at Wimbledon called the ban “very unfair.”
Speaking ahead of his return to action in the Spanish capital, Nadal said: “I think it’s very unfair on my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues.
“It’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war.”
The 21-time grand slam champion’s words were not appreciated by Ukrainian former top50 player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who returned to his country following the invasion to join the reserve forces.
Stakhovsky said: “We competed together, we’ve played each other on tour.
“Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return
I feel for everyone, feel for the players that can’t play, and I don’t support one side or the other Andy Murray
home? How it is fair Ukrainian kids cannot play tennis?
“How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?”
Action against Wimbledon and the preceding grass-court tournaments run by the Lawn Tennis Association could include the removal of ranking points.
Nadal, who is a member of the ATP Player Council, added: “The 2,000 points, whenever we go to the grand slams, they are really important and we have to go to play in those tournaments.
“So we will have to see the measures we take.
“At the end of the day, what happens in our game it doesn’t have any importance when we can see so many people dying and suffering and seeing the bad situation they are suffering in Ukraine.”
World number one Novak Djokovic reiterated his opposition to the ban, saying: “I still stand by my position that I don’t support the decision.
“I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right, but it is what it is.
“They are entitled to make the decision and now I guess it’s on the player council, the tour management, to really decide along with the players what is the best solution in this situation.
“Whether they keep the points, protect the points, take away 50% of the points or whatever.
“I really doubt that there won’t be any points.
“Probably the more realistic option is to protect the points from the Russian and Belarusian players who are not playing.”