Russian and Belarusian players – including world number 2 Daniil Medvedev – were excluded from the 2022 edition of Wimbledon on Wednesday (April 20) in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the board announced. London tournament.
“In the circumstances of unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefit from the participation of Russian or Belarusian players”, explains the organizers of the tournament in a press release. This decision could be reviewed if the “circumstances change radically by June”clarifies the text. “We recognize that this decision is harsh on those individually affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer from the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime”adds the president of the All England Club, which hosts the event, Ian Hewitt.
Besides Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev (8and), Aryna Sabalenka (4and), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15and) and Victoria Azarenka (18and) in particular will therefore be deprived of the Major on grass, which will be held from Monday June 27 to Sunday July 10.
An “unacceptable” decision, according to Moscow
Even before the official announcement from the English tournament, Moscow reacted on Wednesday at the start of the day. “Once again, they are holding athletes hostage to political prejudice, political intrigue (…). This is unacceptable “said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Following the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from many competitions: Paralympic Games in Beijing, Football World Cup, World Swimming Championships, etc.
In tennis, tournaments in Russia and Belarus have been canceled, while the two nations have been excluded from team competitions (Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, won by Russia in 2021). But, individually and under a neutral banner, players from these two countries are authorized to play ATP and WTA tournaments. However, the four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and US Open) are independent of the men’s and women’s circuits.
To date, the French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organizes Roland-Garros (22 May-5 June), and the United States Tennis Federation (USTA), which organizes the US Open (29 August-11 September), did not plan to exclude Russian and Belarusian players.
“I want peace all over the world”
Affected players have been muted in their condemnation of the dispute, although Russia’s Andrey Rublev wrote “No war, please” on a television camera during a competition in Dubai, just after the invasion. “I want peace all over the world”was content to say Daniil Medvedev, recovering from an operation.
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, former world number 1 and crowned twice at the Australian Open, was more explicit. “It is heartbreaking to see how many innocent people have been affected and continue to be affected by this violence”the 32-year-old said in March. “I have always seen and experienced Ukrainians and Belarusians as friendly and supportive people. It is difficult to witness the violent separation that is currently taking place”she said.
Statements deemed insufficient by Ukrainian players, including Elina Svitolina (ex-number 5), who ask the ATP and the WTA to exclude Russians and Belarusians if they do not correctly answer three questions asked in a press release: “Do you support the invasion?” (…) Do you support military activities? (…) Do you support the regimes of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko? “Depending on the responses, we demand the exclusion and banishment of Russian and Belarusian athletes from all international competition, as Wimbledon did”continues this text published on social networks on Wednesday.
