Wimbledon slammed for banning Russian and Belarusian players in a stand against Vladimir Putin

Novak Djokovic has weighed in on Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian players from competing while a tennis star on the Ukrainian front line has slammed his peers for supporting war.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 31: Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns a shot to Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Novak Djokovic has weighed in on Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian players from competing while a tennis star on the Ukrainian front line has slammed his peers for supporting war.

Players, governing bodies and fans are divided on the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s decision to ban both Russian and Belarusian athletes from this year’s championship as they look to take a stand against Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The AELTC said it was a move aimed at “limiting Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible”.

It means Russia’s world No 2 Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian female world number four Aryna Sabalenka as well as a host of other top players will not be competing in South West London this year.

“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players,” an AELTC statement said.

Daniil Medvedev of Russia will not be allowed to compete

“Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.” “It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to Wimbledon,” the AELTC added.

Others hit by the ban are Russia’s world No 8 Andrey Rublev and No 26 Karen Khachanov.

Russian world number 15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus are two of the other top female players who will miss the grass-court Grand Slam.

The ban also extends to warm-up tournaments at Queen’s and Eastbourne.

Novak Djokovic slammed the decision.

“I will always be the first one to condemn the war,” he said. “As a child of war I know what kind of emotional trauma war leaves.

“We have had a lot of war in the Balkans.

“I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy

“The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it (war). When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.”

Russia reacted angrily to the news, deeming it “unacceptable”.

“Once again they simply turn athletes into hostages to political prejudice, political intrigues,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“This is unacceptable. Taking into account that Russia is a very strong tennis country, our athletes are at the top of world rankings, the competition itself will suffer from their removal.” The United States Tennis Association (USTA) acknowledged “the difficult decision made by the All England Club”.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic has slammed Wimbledon’s decision

TENNIS FROM THE FRONT LINE OF WAR

Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky who has taken up arms to defend his country in recent months wrote a sobering and fiercely worded message to his peers warning that silence in the face of injustice is to be complicit.

“For over 50 days now Russian forces have been bombing our cities and killing civilians, “ he wrote.

“Millions have been left homeless, millions of children know what fear and death look like.

“As athletes we live a life in the public eye and have an enormous responsibility.

“Some of our posts reach audiences bigger than television. In times of crisis, silence means agreeing with what is happening.

“We notice that some Russian and Belarusian players vaguely mention war but never clearly state that Russia started it.

“The very silence of those who choose to remain that was is unbearable, it leads to the continuation of murder in our homeland.”

Stakhovsky added that he wanted to see the ITF, ATP and WTA ensure that Russian and Belarusian players answer three questions and denounce their country’s behaviour - the responses to which should determine if they can compete.

They questions included:

1 Do you support Russia and Belarus invasion in Ukraine territory?

2 Do you support Russia’s and Belarus military activities in Ukraine?

3 Do you support Putin and Lukashenko’s regime?

The time is now 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/BTAOckO0dR

— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) April 20, 2022

HOW GOVERNING BODIES REACTED

Both the WTA and ATP have criticised the move claiming it is not only discriminatory but sets a very damaging precedent.

“We believe that today’s unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s British grass-court swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game,” an ATP statement said.

“Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings.

“Our sport is proud to operate on the fundamental principles of merit and fairness, where players compete as individuals to earn their place in tournaments based on the ATP Rankings.” The WTA said the decision was “neither fair nor justified”.

Victoria Azarenka from Belarus will also be banned from playing

“We are very disappointed in today’s announcement,” the WTA said in a statement. “A fundamental principal of the WTA is that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination.”

The LTA should also send Putin an angry letter, and then that should do it

Invasion over

— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) April 20, 2022

Australia’s player John Millman said he didn’t think th eban sent the right message.

“I feel like Ukraine would be better served if Wimbledon donated their entire profit in support aid instead of banning the Russian and Belarusian players,” he tweeted.

Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanović said: “Of course it’s wrong what’s happening, but I don’t think Medvedev, Rublev and the rest of the players are to blame. I don’t think it’s fair.

Wimbledon, which runs from June 27 to July 10 this year, is currently the only one of the four grand slams to take such an extreme approach.

Up until now, players from both nations have been able to compete on the ATP and WTA tours since the war in Ukraine started, but were not allowed to use their national flags.

For now, Russian and Belarusian players are still able to compete at the French Open, which starts in May.

Wimbledon chiefs spoke to the British government earlier in April to discuss whether they should follow a similar policy to the men’s and women’s circuits.

I feel like Ukraine would be better served if @Wimbledon donated their entire profit in support aid instead of banning the Russian and Belarusian players.

— John Millman (@johnhmillman) April 20, 2022

“We recognise that this is hard on the individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime,” AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said.

The AELTC statement added that the ban would be reconsidered if circumstances “change materially” between now and June.