“Given the profile of the championships in the UK and around the world, it is our responsibility to do our part in the widespread effort by government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence by the strongest means possible.” , according to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in a statement.
“Under the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to take any advantage of the participation of Russian or Belarusian players in The Championships.
“It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline registrations from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022,” it added.
The Kremlin said earlier Wednesday that a ban on Russian players from attending Wimbledon as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “unacceptable”.
Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered a question about the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament, reported by The New York Times, before AELTC officially issued its statement.
“Making athletes victims of any political prejudice, intrigue, acts hostile to our country is unacceptable. One can only express one’s regret here,” Peskow said on a conference call with reporters.
“Considering that Russia is after all a very strong tennis country, our tennis players are at the top of the world rankings, the competition itself will suffer from their distance.
“I want to wish the guys do everything they can to stay in shape and not lose their world class in tennis.”
The ban on Russian players will prevent several high-level players from competing in the legendary grass court Grand Slam.
Four Russian men, including world number two and reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, are currently ranked in the top 30 on the ATP Tour.
Russia has five women in the top 40 of the WTA Tour rankings.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is currently fourth in the world rankings and was a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, while her compatriot Victoria Azarenka, a former world No. 1, is currently ranked 18th.
The AELTC decision marks the first time Russian and Belarusian players have been banned from participating in an elite tennis tournament.
Tennis federations had banned Russia and Belarus from international team competitions after the invasion.
However, individual players are allowed to compete on the ATP and WTA tours, but not under their country’s name or flag.
“We believe today’s unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to ban players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s UK turf swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game,” the ATP said in a statement .
“Discrimination based on nationality is also a breach of our agreement with Wimbledon, which states that player participation is based solely on the ATP rankings.
“Any course of action in response to this decision will now be evaluated in consultation with our board and member councils.”
“The silence of those who now choose to remain so is unbearable”
On Wednesday, Ukrainian tennis players Marta Kostyuk, Elina Monfils and Lesia Tsurenko called for a total ban on Russian and Belarusian players who fail to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
You posted a letter on social media addressed to the “tennis community” and asked fellow players to use their platform to express themselves.
“As athletes, we live a life in the public eye and therefore bear an enormous responsibility. Some of our contributions and opinions reach a larger audience than the regional TV channels. In times of crisis, silence means agreeing to what is happening.
“We noticed that some Russian and Belarusian players at some point vaguely mentioned the war, but never clearly said that Russia and Belarus started it on the territory of Ukraine.
“The very silence of those who are choosing to remain so right now is intolerable as it leads to the continuation of the killing in our homeland.”
They go on to demand that the sport’s governing bodies ask players if they support the Russian invasion and ban those who do so from future competitions.
Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year, begins on Monday June 27th.