Russian and Belarusian tennis players to compete as neutral athletes

Tennis’ governing bodies have answered the call of Ukrainian stars Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky and responded to Russia’s invasion.

Russian and Belarusian tennis players can continue competing on the professional tours as neutral athletes but not in the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup competitions.

The international governing bodies of tennis – the WTA, ATP and ITF – issued a joint statement on Wednesday, condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and outlining new playing conditions.

The combined WTA and ATP tournament scheduled for Moscow in October, the Kremlin Cup, has also been suspended.

The likes of new world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev, Karen Khachanov, Ilya Ivashka, Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Veronika Kudermetova will be affected.

Russia won’t be able to defend its Davis Cup and Billie Jean King titles, while Belarus’ Davis Cup qualifier against Mexico this weekend is off.

A joint statement from tennis’ governing bodies said: “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.

@wta@atptour@ITFTennis 🙏🏼🇺🇦#Україна#StandingWithUkrainepic.twitter.com/uOjntwedKF

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) March 1, 2022

“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 safety of the tennis community is our most immediate collective priority.

“The focus of the WTA and ATP, in particular, in recent days has been on contacting current and former players, and other members of the tennis community from Ukraine and neighbouring countries, to check on their safety and offer any assistance.

“The international governing bodies of tennis stand united in our condemnation of Russia’s actions.”

The response comes a day after Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina issued an ultimatum to the WTA, ATP and ITF that she would not play against Russian or Belarusian opponents until they took swift action.

Svitolina called for tennis to follow International Olympic Committee advice for players from those two countries to compete as neutral athletes “without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems”.

‘I will not play’: Ukrainian star’s ultimatum

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has issued an ultimatum to the WTA, ATP and ITF, demanding they take a firm stance on Russia’s violent invasion of her country.

Various sporting organisations, including soccer, Formula One, basketball, swimming and skiing, have already boycotted events, while the International Olympic Committee wants Russian and Belarusian athletes banned from competing.

Svitolina, a former world No.3, won’t play her first-round match in Monterrey against Russian Anastasia Potapova or against any Russian or Belarusian in the future until tennis’ world bodies act.

“I believe the current situation requires a clear position from our organisations: ATP, WTA and ITF,” Svitolina posted.

“As such, we – Ukrainian players – requested to ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the recommendations of the IOC to accept Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems.

✊🏼🇺🇦 #Ukraine#Україна#StandWithUkrianepic.twitter.com/1LT4WjrYI9

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) February 28, 2022

“Accordingly, I want to announce that I will not play tomorrow in Monterrey, nor any other match against Russian or Belarusian tennis players until our organisations take this necessary decision.

“I do not blame any of the Russian athletes. They are not responsible for the invasion of our motherland.

“Moreover, I wish to pay tribute to all the players, especially Russians and Belarusians, who bravely stated their position against the war. Their support is essential.”

Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova followed her countrymen, Andrey Rublev and new world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, in denouncing president Vladimir Putin’s invasion, posting “stop the violence, stop the war”.

Russian-born Australian player Daria Saville has also been vocal against her homeland’s actions.

But Svitolina’s scheduled opponent, Potapova, had a different perspective, urging athletes not to get involved in the situation, even though she was “against grief, tears and war”.

The parents of Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska made the heartbreaking decision to send her and her sister Ivanna out of the country as the violence escalated.

World No.54 Marta Kostyuk was also strong in condemning the violence: “Stop the war. Stop Russian aggression. Bring peace to our homes. Be human.”

Another Ukrainian, former world No.31 Sergiy Stakhovsky, who retired after this year’s Australian Open, has signed up to join his country’s military reserves despite having no experience.

Stakhovsky left behind his wife and three children to drive about 700km into war-torn Ukraine.

“I honestly still don’t imagine how my wife will forgive me, if she ever will,” Stakhovsky told RSN.

“The worst thing out of it all (was speaking to my) youngest one. I have a three-year-old son and I was at the door and he asked me, ‘Daddy, where are you going?’ and I said, ‘I’ll be right back’. That’s the toughest one.

I would like to thank to all the tennis players around the world for their support ! For your messages! Guys I know I’ve been sometimes out of line during our encounters🙄.I just hate loosing🤷🏻‍♂️. Please continue to spread the word about war which russia is waging in Ukraine🇺🇦

— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) February 28, 2022

“Apart from that, I never took it lightly. I barely slept since the war broke out. I can’t really sleep. Honestly, now being in Kyiv, yes, it is stressful, yes, it is different.

“But I honestly feel relief, because I see the energy in the eyes of the people when I was crossing Ukraine because I actually drove from the Slovakian border all the way to Kyiv, so basically around 700km.

“I can see how well the self-organisation of the territorial defence is working. Little cities, villages, they get around and build roadblocks.

“They take their hunting rifles and they all stand and they all check and they all want to help to prevail, to win.”

Stakhovsky said he and his compatriots would do whatever was required to help.

“I’m not a soldier. I know how to use the guns but I’ve never shot anyone or been in a gunfight,” he said.

“So, it’s not really something that I’m looking forward to, but if it’s necessary, I will do it.”

Sooo much respect for @Stako_tennis !!! We pray for you 🙏🏼🇺🇦🥺 https://t.co/teGxoESkiL

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) February 28, 2022