Russian and Belarusian players have been banned from competing at Wimbledon this year.
An April 20 press release announced the ban and stated that the UK government provided guidance in making the decision.
“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,” the press release states.
The Wimbledon tournament in London begins on June 27. It is the oldest tennis tournament globally and is widely regarded as the most prestigious.
Now, some of the most prominent tennis stars are slamming the decision to exclude Russians and Belarusians. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are leading the criticism, while Andy Murray has added that he is “not supportive” of the ban.
Nadal and Djokovic spoke Sunday while in Spain, preparing for the Madrid Open. Both stars said the ban was unfair.
“I think it’s very unfair [on] my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues … it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war,” Nadal, a 21-time Grand Slam winner, said.
“I’m sorry for them,” Nadal said. “Wimbledon just took their decision … the government didn’t force them to do it.”
Nadal added, “Let’s see what happens in the next weeks if the players will take some kind of decision in that regard.”
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have also publicly criticized the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians.
Djokovic compared the situation of the excluded Russian players to the ordeal he went through in January when he was barred from playing in the Australian Open. Upon arrival in Australia, he was detained at an airport and then deported for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
“It’s not the same thing, but going through something similar earlier this year for myself, it’s frustrating knowing that you’re not able to play,” Djokovic said. “I still stand by my position that I don’t support the [Wimbledon] decision. I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right, but it is what it is.”
Murray, the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon men’s champion, said he “feels for everyone,” including the players who “cannot play,” but conceded that there is “no right answer.”
“I’m not supportive of players getting banned,” Murray said. “The guidance from the government was not helpful.”
Reportedly, the UK government suggested allowing Russian and Belarusian players to participate if they signed a declaration form that expressed their disapproval of the war and the Russian regime.
“I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel if something happened to one of the players or their families [as a result of signing the form],” Murray said.
“I don’t think there’s a right answer. I have spoken to some of the Russian players. I’ve spoken to some of the Ukrainian players. I feel really bad for the players who aren’t allowed to play, and I get that it will seem unfair to them. But I also know some of the people who work at Wimbledon, and I know how difficult a position they were in,” Murray continued. “I feel for everyone, feel for the players that can’t play, and I don’t support one side or the other.”
The most prominent players affected by the ban include defending U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and runner-up of the French Open Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, all Russian. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus would also be unable to play.
