Wimbledon had "no other option" other than to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the next edition which will take place between June and July: the organizers said today at the All England Club. To participate in the tournament, the Russian players and Belarusians should have compiled "a written declaration against the invasion of Ukraine, a situation that could have put the players and their families at risk," explained the president of the All England Club, Ian Hewitt, making it clear that this was a condition. by the UK government.
Under these conditions, "we believe we made the most responsible decision possible and that there was no other option," he stressed.
"Even if we were to accept registrations of Russian and Belarusian players with written declarations, we would risk that their success or participation in Wimbledon could be used for the benefit of the Russian regime's propaganda machine, which we could not accept," Hewitt added.
The ban on Russian and Belarusian tennis players was heavily criticized by the ATP and WTA, and by many players.
Novak Djokovic called it "crazy" and Rublev "totally discriminatory".
