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Ian Hewitt, Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), organizer of the Grand Slam in Wimbledon and Managing Director Sally Bolton
Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
The organizers of the grass classic in Wimbledon have defended the exclusion of tennis professionals from Russia and Belarus this year.
Due to the requirements of the British government, there was "no viable alternative", said Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).
World number one Novak Djoković, on the other hand, is allowed to start the title defense at the classic lawn without vaccination against the corona virus.
This is not a requirement for participation in the third Grand Slam tournament of the year from June 27 to July 10, said Sally Bolton, managing director of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).
Djoković has won the title six times at Wimbledon, most recently last year.
Bolton stressed that they would encourage professionals to get vaccinated.
The British government would also no longer require this for entry.
"We plan to return to a regular tournament this year," Bolton said.
On the subject of Russia, however, Hewirt and Bolton remained firm: If professionals from Russia and Belarus had been allowed to participate with a declaration against the war in Ukraine, "we would have risked that their success would have been used to the advantage of the Russian regime's propaganda machine". said Hewitt.
"We believe we made the most responsible decision possible."
The third Grand Slam tournament of the year takes place from June 27th to July 10th.
Wimbledon is the first event to ban tennis pros because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This affects, for example, the world number two Daniil Medvedev from Russia and the two-time Grand Slam tournament winner Victoria Asarenka from Belarus.
Possibly no world ranking points for Wimbledon
The two professional organizations ATP and WTA had criticized the decision and could possibly take consequences.
So it is in the room that no world ranking points will be awarded for Wimbledon this year.
A decision could be made at meetings in Madrid this week.
"We do not engage in speculation," Bolton said.
see/dpa