Russian tennis player to play at Wimbledon after switching nationality

Russian-born tennis player Natela Dzalamidze has avoided being banned from Wimbledon by changing her nationality to Georgian. 

According to The Times, the 29-year-old, who is ranked 44th in women’s doubles, will compete alongside Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic at the All England Club this summer. 

Wimbledon organisers announced in April that players from Russia and Belarus would not be permitted to compete at this year’s championships amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

But a spokesperson for the All England Club told The Times that there was nothing they could do to prevent Dzalamidze from changing her nationality and that she has now satisfied the entry requirements. 

“Player nationality, defined as the flag they play under at professional events, is an agreed process that is governed by tours and the ITF,” they said. 

Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players has divided opinions, with many stressing the ruling is unfair. 

Novak Djokovic, who is the defending champion in the men’s singles at the All England Club, described the decision as “crazy” and said sport should not interfere with politics. 

“I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy,” he stressed. “The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it [war]. When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.” 

Natela Dzalamidze, a 29-year-old doubles player ranked No 44 in the world, will compete in the women’s doubles with Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic after the sport’s authorities approved the switch in time for last week’s entry deadline

Meanwhile, Martina Navratilova, who was stripped of her citizenship from Czechoslovakia and became a US citizen in 1981, said she was “devastated” when she