Wimbledon announced on Wednesday that it had barred all Russian and Belarusian players from this year's championships due to the invasion, which Russia calls a "special operation".
Wimbledon's decision to ban all Russian and Belarusian players from this year's championships due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has created a storm among tennis enthusiasts, with several questioning the move to discriminate between players and the passports they hold.
Statement regarding Russian and Belarusian individuals at The Championships 2022.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon)World number one Novak Djokovic, too, voiced his opinion over this 'crazy' decision. The 34-year-old, who grew up in war-torn Serbia, said the athletes had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict.
"I will always condemn war. I will never support war being myself a child of war," Djokovic told reporters at the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 event in Belgrade.
"I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia, we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans, we have had many wars in recent history. However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon. I think it is crazy. When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good," he added.
The grasscourt Grand Slam is the first tennis tournament to ban individual competitors from the two countries, meaning men's world number two, Daniil Medvedev from Russia and women's fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will be banned from the June 27-July 10 tournament.
ATP, WTA slam decision
The All England Lawn Tennis Club's (AELTC) decision has been criticized by the ATP and WTA. In a statement released, the ATP said, "We believe that today’s unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s British grass-court swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game."
"Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings. Any course of action in response to this decision will now be assessed in consultation with our Board and Member councils. It is important to stress that players from Russia and Belarus will continue to be allowed to compete at ATP events under a neutral flag, a position that has until now been shared across professional tennis. In parallel, we will continue our joint humanitarian support for Ukraine under Tennis Plays for Peace," the ATP added.
“We are, however, very disappointed in today’s announcement by the AELTC and the LTA to ban individual athletes who are from Russia and Belarus from competing in the upcoming UK grass court events,” the WTA’s statement read.
“A fundamental principal of the WTA is that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination. That principle is expressly set forth in our rules and has been agreed to by both AELTC and LTA. Prohibitions against discrimination are also clearly expressed in their own rules and the Grand Slam rules," the WTA added.
The move is the first time players have been banned based on nationality since the immediate post-World War Two era when German and Japanese players were excluded. The AELTC said it would "consider and respond accordingly" if circumstances change between now and June.
Decision sparks outrage on Twitter
Several tennis enthusiasts slammed Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year's prestigious tournament, with most users calling out Britain's hypocrisy. One user stated, "This does not sit well with me one bit. Issuing an ultimatum to a tennis player to denounce an autocrat knowing he and his family will suffer, is deeply unfair. The invasion of Ukraine was not ordered by Daniil Medvedev."
Meanwhile, another user added, "Has Wimbledon ever banned American players for our invasion of Afghanistan? Iraq? Overthrowing Ghaddafi in Libya? Support for Saudi Arabia in their war against Yemen? Hypocrites and scumbags, all."
Here's a look at some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site:
This does not sit well with me one bit. Issuing an ultimatum to a tennis player to denounce an autocrat knowing he and his family will suffer is deeply unfair. The invasion of Ukraine was not ordered by Daniil Medvedev. https://t.co/UGY1Cnp3yj
— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9)Has Wimbledon ever banned American players for our invasion of Afghanistan? Iraq? Overthrowing Ghaddafi in Libya? Support for Saudi Arabia in their war against Yemen?
Hypocrites and scumbags, all.
Absolutely the wrong decision by to discriminate against Russian/Belarusian tennis players, some who have actively opposed the war. A token gesture that has backfired. I will be boycotting the event as a result but I fully expect them to revert to the no flag rule. https://t.co/7BZRPITACI
— Faisal (@FaisM11)If you’re going to ban Russian tennis players from Wimbledon, then ban Israeli athletes from everything!
— Farz Khan | Najmul | فرز خان 🇮🇳 (@discoverykhan78)Reports set to ban all Russian players from this year’s tournament including the #2 player in the world. Trying to remember: How many Americans were banned while the US dropped tens of thousands of bombs on Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, & Yemen?
— Lee Camp [Redacted] (@LeeCamp)Wimbledon is banning all competitors from Russia and Belarus in the tournament this year.
Wimbledon takes place in London, England. The United States [CIA] and the United Kingdom overthrew a democratically elected government in Iran in 1953 on behalf of British Petroleum [BP]. https://t.co/1yzILr0Gx0 pic.twitter.com/8ZZEeGXEXR
If you’re going to ban Russian tennis players from Wimbledon, then ban Israeli athletes from everything!
— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman)Wimbledon bans world number 2 tennis player, only because he is Russian.
This is madness on an entirely new scale 🤯 pic.twitter.com/91gFx1K3p1
I feel like Ukraine would be better served if donated their entire profit in support aid instead of banning the Russian and Belarusian players.
— John Millman (@johnhmillman)These are the types of players that are being punished for a war they didn't start; by leaders they can't choose. But you want to make your political statement to make it seem like you're doing anything meaningful. Shame on you. pic.twitter.com/E2K7vyAdvH
— NoFirstName claycourtdal (@SMSTNS)Surely, Wimbledon banned itself when Britain invaded Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. 🤔 https://t.co/O5vfk0s6xU
— Nina 🐙 Byzantina (@NinaByzantina)ATP says Wimbledon's decision "is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game" pic.twitter.com/00oxkPXJx1
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey)Kecmanovic on Wimbledon decision: Of course it’s wrong what’s happening, but I don’t think Medvedev, Rublev and the rest of the players are to blame. I don’t think it’s fair.
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa)WTA joins ATP in criticising Wimbledon and the LTA for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from their events.
The word ‘discrimination’ gets quite an airing. pic.twitter.com/IdeGO1X5Eb
Wimbledon is wrong to ban Russian tennis players over the Ukraine invasion. Should the NHL ban Russian hockey players? Just insanely dumb to hold individual athletes accountable for their home country actions: pic.twitter.com/eqHoYyGrnj
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis)Wimbledon is banning all Russian players from its Grand Slam tennis tournament this year.
A black guy murdered someone last night, why don't you block me, I'm black too.
One of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time.