Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has publicly endorsed the calls for Russia to be banned from the Olympics, diverging from the stance of tennis' governing bodies.
Kvitova's stance follows her semi-final victory against Sorana Cirstea at the Miami Open and aligns with the sentiments of her Ukrainian counterparts. Last year, Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association had imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian players from participating in their event, fearing that their governments might exploit the platform for propaganda purposes.
The move sparked controversy among the WTA and ATP, resulting in the removal of ranking points and the imposition of a hefty fine. Tennis authorities argued that players should not be punished for their country's actions.
This year, the Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at the Wimbledon and so the focus immediately shifted to the upcoming Olympics, which will be played in 2024 in Paris. Kvitova expressed her support for excluding Russia from the Olympics, emphasizing her opposition to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"I always state [that I’m] against the war. For sure I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players. I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points, that Belarusian and Russian (players) didn’t play. And I think they shouldn’t be allowed, actually, in my opinion, either to (play in) the Olympics."
The Czech player then emphasized even further her support for the ban specifically for the Olympic Games. She underscored the essence of the Olympics as a symbol of global unity, free from war and conflict.
"Well, not in the Olympics, for sure. Because I feel the Olympics Games [exist] because we don’t want a war in the world. So that’s my concern. I’m really appreciating that Wimbledon didn’t take them last year."
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