Tennis: British tournaments threatened with suspension if they do not accept Russian athletes

A big fine and a threat.

The English tournaments are in the crosshairs of the ATP after their refusal to accept the participation of Russian and Belarusian players in their tournaments.

The ATP said on Wednesday that it had sanctioned the British Tennis Federation (LTA) with a fine of one million dollars (950,000 euros).

This fine corresponds to a distribution by tranches of 200,000 dollars to the five tournaments concerned (Queen's, Eastbourne, as well as the Challengers of Surbiton, Nottingham, and Ilkley).

The ATP and WTA are also threatening the British Tennis Federation (LTA) to suspend all of its tournaments on the men's and women's circuits if Russian and Belarusian players, banned from participating in 2022, are not allowed to play them in 2023.

Wimbledon does not belong to the LTA, but had decided to follow its position.

The English Grand Slam, which is independent of both the ATP and the WTA, had also refused Russian and Belarusian players.

In response, the ATP and the WTA had decided not to award any ranking points to the Major on grass, which is not affected by the sanctions and fines aimed at the LTA.

In a statement, the LTA said it was “deeply disappointed.

The ATP shows no recognition of the exceptional circumstances created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, nor of the supportive reactions from the international sporting community, nor of the UK government's response to this invasion.

We will prepare our response and await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA's decision and sanction,” the LTA statement concludes.