Tennis takes action as Russia, key ally erased over Ukraine invasion

It may not be considered strong enough by some but the sports world continues to take action in the face of Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

Russian and Belarusian tennis players will be allowed to continue competing in ATP and WTA tournaments and Grand Slam events, the sport’s governing bodies said on Wednesday.

A statement from the ATP, WTA, ITF and the organisers of the four Grand Slam competitions said Russians and Belarusians can keep competing in professional events “for the time being”, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, they will not be allowed to compete under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus.

The ITF have suspended both countries from team events, the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. And the ATP and WTA tournaments set to be held in Moscow in October have been suspended.

On the official rankings page of the WTA website, players traditionally have their country name and flag listed under their “region”. However, as of Wednesday, those spaces for Russian and Belarusian players was left blank.

World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, from Belarus, had no flag or country of origin on her profile and neither did countrywoman Victoria Azarenka or Russians like Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Veronika Kudermetova and Daria Kasatkina.

Russian and Belarusian flags have been removed from the WTA website.

Many sports are taking action against Russia.

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday urged sports federations and organisers to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international events.

FIFA and UEFA followed suit by banning Russia from international football tournaments with World Athletics one of many governing bodies also to implement a ban.

“A deep sense of distress, shock and sadness has been felt across the entire tennis community following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the past week,” said the joint statement.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and we commend the many tennis players who have spoken out and taken action against this unacceptable act of aggression. We echo their calls for the violence to end and peace to return.”

The ruling means new men’s world number one Daniil Medvedev is free to compete on tour.

Russia’s Medvedev on Tuesday officially became the first man since 2004 outside the game’s “Big Four” of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to occupy the top spot.

Medvedev is one of many Russian and Belarusian tennis stars that have used their profile on social media to plead for peace.

“I want to ask for peace in the world, for peace between countries,” he posted on Sunday.

Tennis star: ‘I know how to use a gun’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky hopes he doesn’t have to use a gun after joining the fight to protect his country from the Russian invasion.

Stakhovsky, who famously beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, is the latest Ukrainian sports star to defend his country.

The 36-year-old retired after the Australian Open in January and has returned to Kyiv to take part in the struggle to repel the Russians.

“I know how to use the gun. If I’ll have to, I’ll have to. I pretty much hope that I won’t have to use the gun,” Stakhovsky told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.

Questioned about the difficulty of leaving his wife Anfisa and children at their home in Hungary, he said: “I’m still not sure how I’ve done it.

“I know that it’s extremely hard on my wife. My kids don’t know that I’m here. They don’t understand war. They’re too little to understand what’s going on.”

Sergiy Stakhovsky is joining the fight. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Three-weight boxing champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is believed to have joined the fight too. The 34-year-old was photographed wearing military uniform with a rifle across his shoulder in a post on his Facebook page.

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Anthony Joshua in September, is also said to have left London to take part in the war.

Asked by the BBC to confirm whether Usyk had gone to Ukraine to fight, his promoter Alexander Krassyuk said “every Ukrainian joined the defence”.

Britain heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury saluted Usyk’s decision during a press conference on Tuesday ahead of his fight against Dillian Whyte.

“I would be on the front line if England or the USA got involved (in the war),” Fury said.

“So would my dad and all the boys (the Fury brothers). Love your woman and defend your country.”

Ukrainian heavyweight icon Vitali Klitschko, the current Mayor of Kyiv, will serve in the war. The 50-year-old’s brother Wladimir has also signed up as a reserve for the territorial forces.

“I am Ukrainian, and I am a fighter,” Wladimir Klitschko said on Monday. “Our strongest force is the will and desire to live in a free country, and we have chosen the direction we want to go.”