Wimbledon has set itself on a potential collision course with the rest of tennis after banning Russian and Belarussian players from this summer’s championships due to the scale and severity of the invasion of Ukraine. “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 with the Championships,” it added. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ATP – along with the WTA, which runs the women’s game – has only required tournaments to bar Russian and Belarussian players from displaying their national flags and playing their national anthems. However, that idea was rejected as unworkable, with Wimbledon fearing it could place the families of Russian players in harm’s way, as well as creating a dangerous precedent. The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it [war].

Source: The Guardian April 20, 2022 22:52 UTC