Wimbledon Lifts Ban On Russian and Belarusian Players Under Certain Conditions
ATP
Russian and Belarusian players will be able to compete at the Wimbledon Championships this year. The All England Lawn and Tennis Club (AELTC) made a long-awaited announcement.
The 135th edition of the Wimbledon Championships, which was held in 2022, was one of the weirdest editions of this prestigious grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
Not all tennis players were allowed to compete, as the Russian and Belarusian players were not allowed to play in the United Kingdom.
As a response to this decision, the ATP and the WTA removed the points awarded at the tournament, which essentially made it an exhibition event, even though there wasn't any strong response to that move from the players, and everyone competed.
This year, the tournament at Wimbledon will be held from July 3rd to 16th, and while most players likely didn't even think about it yet, the Russian and Belarusian players awaited the decision.
Now, they know that they will be able to compete at Wimbledon, and also the events organized by the LTA in the United Kingdom, after the chairman of the All England Club, Ian Hewitt, confirmed the decision regarding this year's Championships, which will see the Russian and Belarusian players return to the grass-court major in London.
"We continue to condemn totally Russia’s illegal invasion and our wholehearted support remains with the people of Ukraine. This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted. It is our view that, considering all factors, these are the most appropriate arrangements for the Championships for this year."
"We are thankful for the Government’s support as we and our fellow tennis stakeholder bodies have navigated this complex matter and agreed on conditions we believe are workable. If circumstances change materially between now and the commencement of the Championships, we will consider and respond accordingly."
