John McEnroe bemoans 'lose-lose' Wimbledon situation after ranking points stripped

John McEnroe has labelled the Wimbledon saga that has marred the build-up as a 'lose-lose situation'. It has been an unusually tumultuous year for tennis, starting with Novak Djokovic’s visa saga and eventual deportation from Australia in January.

Months later, Wimbledon opted to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing this year due to President Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In support of the players affected, the ATP and WTA opted to strip the Grand Slam of ranking points, almost rendering it an exhibition event.

Tennis icon McEnroe has now described the sage as an unfortunate situation and stressed there is no winner in this tussle. "It was a mistake (to ban Russian and Belarusian players)," he told Reuters. "I know that it's a very horrible, tricky, terrible situation, obviously, in Ukraine."

"And no one else has made that decision. I think there was something with the government? I don't know exactly. I wish that wasn't what they did. And I wish the ATP and the WTA didn't decide it, say right now no points. It's like a lose-lose right now. Tennis players, we are like a fraternity. We travel the world. And even if we speak different languages, there's a connection. And in a small way, it's like a family. And we need to support each other.

"It's difficult to see like some of our best players not playing because of something they have nothing to do with. So I hope it is resolved. I don't know. But it's a bad situation." With no ranking points on offer at the All-England Club this year, it will significantly impact some players, such as defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Players usually receive 2,000 ranking points for winning a Grand Slam singles title, but with none on offer at Wimbledon this year,