US Open will allow tennis stars from Russia and Belarus to play after Wimbledon faces punishment for ban

The US Open tennis tournament will permit Russian and Belarusian players to participate, after Wimbledon faced sanctions from world tennis bodies for banning them.

The decision clears the way for reigning champion and world number one Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to compete. Medvedev has previously described the war as “very upsetting” and called for “peace in all countries”.

A statement from the United States Tennis Association said: “The USTA will allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2022 US Open, but only under a neutral flag.”

It said the USTA “continues to condemn the unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia”, but said it would abide by a directive “for players from those countries to play under a neutral flag when competing”.

The statement added: “We recognise that each organisation has had to deal with unique circumstances that affect their decisions. Based on our own circumstances, the USTA will allow all eligible players, regardless of nationality, to compete at the 2022 US Open.”

Mike McNulty, USTA chairman, also promised a “broad set of initiatives that will include significant financial assistance and other programs to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine”.

The decision comes after Wimbledon was stripped of points by tennis bodies the ATP and WTA over its ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

“It is with great regret and reluctance that we see no option but to remove ATP Ranking points from Wimbledon for 2022,” an ATP statement said last month.

“Our rules and agreements exist in order to protect the rights of players as a whole. Unilateral decisions of this nature, if unaddressed, set a damaging precedent for the rest of the Tour.

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