LTA fine from WTA for barring Russian and Belarusian tennis players is halved

The fine imposed on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) by the world governing body for women’s tennis over the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players has been halved following a successful appeal.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the men’s equivalent body, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), both accused Wimbledon and the LTA of discriminating against their players and refused to sanction ranking points for Wimbledon in 2022. The LTA excluded Russian and Belarusian tennis players from all of its tournaments last year in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The WTA swiftly issued a $1m (£805,000) fine to the British tennis tournaments, with the LTA shouldering $750,000 (£604,000) of that fine. The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which hosts Wimbledon and also owns the warm-up event in Birmingham, was fined $250,000 (£201,000).

The ATP also imposed a $1m fine on its five UK-based events, which are all owned by the LTA, meaning the governing body for British tennis paid a total of $1.75m (£1.41m) in fines last year. As a result of the fines, LTA will make a loss in its 2022 accounts, which will be covered by the organisation’s cash reserves.

The LTA appealed against the WTA’s fines, with the two organisations ultimately agreeing to halve their portion of the fine to $375,000 (£302,000). The successful appeal comes after the LTA decided to reverse its ban this year and allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete at their events.

According to the LTA, the WTA’s rules and procedures are clearer, leading to a swift agreement between the two parties. The LTA has only been able to “make representations” to the ATP in order for them to reconsider their decision and they are still awaiting a