Wimbledon ban on Russian players risks setting ominous precedent – Martyn McLaughlin

Nearly eight weeks have yet to pass before Wimbledon gets underway, yet one of the showpiece tournaments of tennis already finds itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Or is it the right reasons? No one can quite agree.

The debate over the ban on Russian and Belarusian players taking part at this summer’s event has been reignited after Sir Andy Murray was asked for his views on the issue. The two-time men’s singles champion said he did not agree with the move, but conceded that there was no “right answer”.

“I’m not supportive of players getting banned,” said the 34-year-old. “The guidance from the government was not helpful. My understanding of the guidance was that Russians and Belarusians can play if they sign a declaration that they’re against the war and against the Russian regime. I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel if something happened to one of the players or their families [as a consequence].”

In terms of sporting spectacle, the ban is undoubtedly a blow for those who had hoped to see the best tennis players in the world compete against one another in one of the sport’s showpiece gatherings.

World number two Daniil Medvedev and world number eight Andrey Rublev – who has spoken out against the war at great personal risk – will miss out on the men's side, with the likes of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Daria Kasatkina – ranked 11th and 23rd respectively – will be absent from the women’s event.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has said it consulted the UK Government prior to making its decision, and reasoned that it has a responsibility to “limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible”.

It explained: “In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented