Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic slams Russia decision

Novak Djokovic has expressed his dismay at Wimbledon’s decision to ban all Russian and Belarusian players for this summer’s championship.

Wimbledon confirmed that all players from Russia and Belarus had been banned from competing due to the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

Djokovic is among many to speak out expressing that it is a “crazy” decision as the athletes have nothing to do with the conflict.

A statement released by the All England Club yesterday read:

“Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting, and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.

“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships.

“It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022.”

The Grand Slam is the first tennis tournament to officially ban individual competitors from either country, a decision that hasn’t gone down too well. It will mean that the World Number 2 Daniil Medvedev and women’s number 4 Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, will not be making an appearance in the tournament.

Following his win at the Serbia Open against fellow countryman Laslo Djere, Djokovic spoke to reporters about his opinion on the matter.

He said: “I will always condemn war; I will never support war being myself a child of war. I know how much emotional trauma it leaves.

“In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the