Russian and Belarusian tennis players will be able to compete again Wimbledon after having it banned last year due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The decision, which will be officially announced next month, as revealed by the Daily Mail newspaper, has been caused by pressure from the ATP and WTA, which threatened to withdraw the licenses of British tournaments, in addition to imposing harsh economic sanctions and denouncing them. in the tribunals.
Last year, the two tennis organizations opted to remove from Wimbledon the points that the tournament gave for the classifications of both circuits and financially sanctioned the English Tennis Federation (LTA) for the ban on Russians and Belarusians playing in British tournaments. like Queen’s or Eastbourne, among others.
Medvedev, illusionado
The decision prevented playing Daniil Medvedevthen world number 1, and Aryna Sabalenkasemifinalist at Wimbledon in 2021, among other affected tennis players, in addition to preventing Novak Djokovic and the Kazakh, of Russian origin, Elena Rybakina will add 2,000 points for their titles in the British Grand Slam.
“I like to play on grass, I like to play at Wimbledon and I would be happy to play again this year, if in the end I can play I hope to have great results,” he said. Medvedevto the BBC, from Indian Wells, after hearing the news.
strict code of conduct
To receive permission to play tennis players must participate under a neutral flagas is done in all competitions in the world today and will be done in the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024. In addition to being expelled from the tournament in case of expressing support for Russia and the actions of Vladimir Putin’s government.
Russian and Belarusian tennis players must sign a code of conduct which also states that they will not wear any symbols favorable to their country, nor will they speak positively of Russian actions while the war continues.
Besides the presence of Russian and Belarusian flags will be prohibited in the stands during Wimbledon and tournaments on the grass tour that take place in the United Kingdom. The decision will become official in the coming weeks, when Wimbledon and the LTA guarantee the neutrality of the affected tennis players.