'Unfair' - ATP, WTA slate Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian, Belarusian athletes from competing this year

The ATP and WTA have condemned Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing at the Grand Slam. The All England Club's decision — in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine — is the first time Russian players have been expressly prohibited from competing in an elite tennis event. Ad/> The ATP, WTA and ITF have allowed Russians and Belarusians to continue playing in a neutral capacity without displaying their national flag or having their national anthem played.

WimbledonWimbledon confirms ban on Russian and Belarusian players for 202213 HOURS AGO As it stands, world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev on the men's side and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Daria Kasatkina on the women's side are not allowed to compete at Wimbledon. The ATP and the WTA believe excluding Russian and Belarusian players from the grass Slam is unfair and believe The All England Club are performing a discriminatory act.

WTA STATEMENT The WTA strongly condemns the actions that have been taken by Russia and its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We continue our humanitarian relief efforts to support Ukraine through Tennis Plays for Peace. We are, however, very disappointed in today’s announcement by the AELTC and the LTA to ban individual athletes who are from Russia and Belarus from competing in the upcoming UK grass court events.

A fundamental principal of the WTA is that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination. That principle is expressly set forth in our rules and has been agreed to by both AELTC and LTA. Prohibitions against discrimination are also clearly expressed in their own rules and the Grand Slam rules.