Russia tennis ban

SIR – Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association are right to ban Russian and Belarusian tennis players from this year’s championships.

It is a small but simple way for the West to protest against Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Plus, it has plainly irked the Kremlin.

We should not forget that, in the globetrotting world of the professional tennis circuit, the players in question will be fully aware of the true nature of events in Ukraine, courtesy of international media reporting. They are in a unique position to advise and influence (should they feel compelled) the Russian people, who are being fed lies and propaganda. Thus far the silence has been deafening.

Yes, a ban may inconvenience the players for a while, but compared with the daily hardships and suffering of the people in Ukraine it is a minuscule price to pay. The rest of the sporting world should be following suit.

Howard March

Birmingham