"I don't like unilateral decisions" - Millman on Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian players

| by Evita Mueller

After his appearance in the French capital, John Millman has attacked Wimbledon's "unilateral" decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players.

The 32-year-old Aussie claimed after his loss to Sebastian Korda at the 2022 Roland Garros on Tuesday that he still expected to play at Wimbledon, but that the world's most prestigious event may potentially ban him because of his statements.

"Look, my old man's flown over for it, Wimbledon's hallowed ground, mate, a beautiful place. I love it," John Millman said. "But I don't like how they went about making the decision. If the whispers are that it's government guidance, get the government to come out and say it was them. I'm getting older, there's probably not going to be so many opportunities to play Wimbledon, so I think I'll play but maybe I'll get banned for saying this stuff."

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"I mean, you can, right? That's what I've had a problem with from the very start - unilateral decisions. First, I want to put it out there that I'm against any conflict where people are dying. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is terrible."

"My heart aches for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian players, I hate that. But I hate all conflict. I didn't like the war in Iraq when collateral damage is seen as innocent people dying. I don't like the UK selling bombs to the Saudis when they bomb Yemen. I don't like Israel and Palestine conflict, don't like the Libya conflict, anywhere where people are dying. I think that it's rubbish. But also I don't like unilateral decisions."

"I have a problem with lack of communication. The player council, player reps on the ATP board, hadn't been consulted until after the decision had been made. And this is where the governance is wrong in tennis, at Grand Slam level. Because it should be a partnership. I just don't see that and I don't see it with this decision."

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