In addition to the world number 2 Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rubev (8th), Aryna Sabalenka (4th), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15th) or Victoria Azarenka (18th) will not be able to participate in the London Tennis Tournament in June and July.
Le Monde with AFP
Russian and Belarus players – including the world number 2 Daniil Medvedev – were excluded, Wednesday, April 20, of Wimbledon’s 2022 edition in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, announced The direction of the London tournament.
“In the circumstances of an unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to benefit from the participation of Russian or Belarus players,” explains the organizers of the tournament in a communiqué . This decision could be reviewed if the “circumstances change radically by June”, specifies the text. “We recognize that this decision is hard for individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer from the acts of Russian regime leaders,” adds the President of the All England Club, which welcomes the event, Ian Hewitt.
In addition to Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rubev (8 e ), Aryna Sabalenka (4 e ), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15 e ) and Victoria Azarenka (18 e ) will therefore be deprived of the major on grass, which will be held from Monday, June 27 to Sunday, July 10th.
An “unacceptable” decision, according to Moscow
Even before the official announcement on the part of the English tournament, Moscow reacted, Wednesday at the beginning of the day. “Once again, they make athletes the hostages of political prejudices, political intrigues (…). It is unacceptable,” said Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov.
Depending on the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Russian and Belarus athletes have been banished by many competitions: Beijing Paralympic Games, World Football, World Swimming …
In tennis, tournaments in Russia and Belarus were canceled, while the two nations were excluded from team competitions (Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, won by Russia last year). But, individually and under neutral banner, players and players of these two countries are allowed to play ATP and WTA tournaments. However, the four Grand Slam tournaments (Open d’Australia, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open) are independent of the men and women’s circuits.
To date, the French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organizes Roland-Garros (22 May-5 June), and the US Tennis Federation (USTA), which organizes the US Open (29 August-11 September), have not planned to exclude Russian and Belarus players.
“I want peace around the world”
The players concerned were discreet in their condemnation of the conflict, although Russian Andrey Rublev wrote “no war, please” on a television camera during a competition in Dubai, just after the ‘invasion. “I want peace around the world,” said Daniil Medvedev, in convalescence as a result of an operation.
The Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, former world issue 1 and sacred twice at the Australian Open, has been more explicit. “It is heartbreaking how many innocent people have been affected and continue to be by this violence,” said the 32-year-old player in March. “I have always seen and lived Ukrainians and belorusses as friendly and solidarity people. It’s hard to witness the violent separation that is currently held,” she said.
Declarations considered inadequate by Ukrainian players, including Elina Svitolina (ex-number 5), who request ATP and WTA to exclude Russians and Belarusses if they do not correctly answer three questions asked in A statement: “Do you support the invasion? (…) Do you support military activities? (…) Do you support Vladimir Putin and Alexandre Loukachenko regimes?” “Depending on the answers, we call for the exclusion And the banish of Russian and Belarus athletes of any international competition, as Wimbledon did, “continues this text published on social networks Wednesday.