Wimbledon chiefs deny Maria Sharapova snub for Centre Court centenary amid Russian ban

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Maria Sharapova was notably absent from Wimbledon 's Centre Court centenary celebrations on Sunday, but organisers have insisted that was not due to her being Russian.

All players from Russia and Belarus have been banned from attending SW19 this year due to their involvement in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It's understood Wimbledon bosses worried about the prospect of a Royal being pictured with a champion from one of those countries, with Kate Middleton replacing the Queen as Patron of Wimbledon's All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016.

Fans were quick to spot Sharapova was not present in the recent parade of champions. Of the 26 Wimbledon winners who took part in the line-up, almost half (12) had won a solitary major crown in London.

Sharapova, 35, won the first of her five career Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon 2004 when she beat Serena Williams in straight sets. Spectators also spotted Sharapova—who was only 17 at the time of her maiden major title—was missing from a video montage celebrating past champions.

But the Daily Mail reported the invitation criteria was not as open as some might expect. For starters, the All England Club said only those former champions who would already be present at or close to this year's