Novak Djokovic blasts ‘crazy’ Wimbledon decision to ban Russian tennis stars

Novak Djokovic has branded Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this summer’s championships as ‘crazy’.

Wimbledon confirmed on Wednesday that it had barred all Russian and Belarusian players from competing due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The grasscourt Grand Slam is the first tennis tournament to ban individual competitors from the two countries, meaning men’s world No.2 Daniil Medvedev and women’s fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will be banned from the June 27-July 10 tournament.

Djokovic, who grew up in war-torn Serbia, said the athletes had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict.

‘I will always condemn war, I will never support war being myself a child of war,’ Djokovic, whose own start to the season was mired in controversy following the Australian government’s decision to ban him from the first major tournament of the season, told reporters at the Serbia Open.

‘I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history.

‘However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy.

‘When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.’

Explaining the decision to ban Russian and Belarussian competitors, meanwhile, the All England Club released a statement yesterday which read: ‘Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.

‘In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian