Wimbledon has barred all Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s championships due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
But the decision from the All England Club (AELTC) organisers has been condemned swiftly by the men’s and women’s tours, as well as by American great Martina Navratilova.
The move is the first time players have been banned on the grounds of nationality since the immediate post-World War Two era when German and Japanese players were excluded.
The world’s most celebrated tournament is the first tennis event to ban individual competitors from the two countries, meaning men’s world No.2 Daniil Medvedev, from Russia, and women’s fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, will be banned from the June 27-July 10 tournament.
Daniil Medvedev (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
In a statement on Wednesday, the AELTC said it had to play its part in the efforts of government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to “limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.”
“We recognise that this is hard on the individuals affected, and it is with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime,” AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said in the statement.
The players have also been banned from the UK grass-court tournaments held in the build-up to Wimbledon.
The ATP, which governs men’s tennis, said the “unilateral decision” by Wimbledon to exclude players from Russia and Belarus was “unfair” and could potentially 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,” the men’s governing body said.
“Any course of action in response to this decision will now be assessed in consultation with our board and member councils.”
The Women’s Tennis Association said it was “very disappointed” with the decision and was now “evaluating its next steps and what actions may be taken regarding these decisions”.
“Individual athletes should not be penalised or prevented from competing due to where they are from, or the decisions made by the governments of their countries,” said the WTA.
“Discrimination, and the decision to focus such discrimination against athletes competing on their own as individuals, is neither fair nor justified.”
Aryna Sabalenka (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Both tennis governing bodies had banned Russia and Belarus from international team competitions following the invasion, but allowed players from the two countries to continue competing on their respective tours as neutrals.
Navratilova, who won Wimbledon a record nine times between 1978 and 1990, called the move “the wrong decision”.
“Exclusion like this, through no fault of these players, is not the way to go,” she told LBC Radio.
“Tennis is such a democratic sport it is difficult when you see politics destroy it. On the women’s side practically ten per cent of the field is not allowed to play,” added the Czech-born American, whose wife is Russian.
“This decision was made in a vacuum by the All England Club. I understand their predicament but I just don’t think they’re seeing the big picture in a more global way. But I am devastated by the decision, quite frankly.”
Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev told the country’s Sport Express newspaper that there was nothing it could do.
“I think this decision is wrong but there is nothing we can change,” Tarpischev said.
“The (Russian) Tennis Federation has already done everything it could.”
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Nick that is a total lie and you have said it a lot. No club sets their own laws on who they can invite in or block out. Ban Negro's from entering and watch the reaction. Ban Chinese, Ban Asians..... Laws stop what you are saying.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Wimbledon are a private club. They can invite who they like for whatever reasons they like. Lets see how that stands up if they tried banning black people or Hispanic or Asian shall we. You know laws stop that sort of rubbish.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yes it is. It's is absolutely true. There are plenty of clubs and membership organisations that can set the rules even on guests. If I was wrong, and indeed if it was illegal then either the Russian or Belarusian tennis bodies or indeed the exceptionally wealthy Azarenka and Medvedev would have already lodged paperwork in court. But they haven't. Because they'd lose. As a quick example of legalised discrimination - A private women's gym can quite legally choose to exclude all male visitors.
Prez
Roar Rookie
@Nuck, its your argument that private clubs have the absolute power to discriminate when determining entry of visitors, employees and or contractors. This is plainly not true for England.
Adam
Roar Guru
Can't compete in FIFA or World Rugby internationals either
Nick
Roar Guru
But then that would have meant a goose like you would be validated with your utter lunacy.
Nick
Roar Guru
1. My response was to Prez. 2. If Wimbledon wanted to ban Nick Kyrgios because of Aboriginal death's in custody, then that is their decision to make as a private club. Bottom line - you don't get to engage in crass whataboutism until you reconcile the fact that you didn't get outraged by Russia being excluded from football, ice skating, volleyball, basketball etc. You are only sulking because you like tennis.
Peter
Roar Rookie
No one is saying that the Russian minister is beyond repute. Nor do I claim that what the AELTC has done is illegal but it is in my opinion grossly unfair to penalise an individual for the actions of their government. Should Nick Kyrgios not play because there are aboriginal death's in custody or because John Howard's government allowed the Australian "Defence" Force, a misnomer if there ever was one, to participate in the invasion of Afghanistan. It is at best a grey area. I am glad you are convinced otherwise. Personally, I have always been sceptical about those who claim to speak or know the truth with such conviction. Things, in my experience are never as clear cut as some would have us believe.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Tell that to the Chinese and Indian Governments. I think you are confusing Anglo/Western Foreign Policy with humanism as expressed by John Donne. “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
Nick
Roar Guru
@prex So - you can say with 100% confidence that what the AELTC have done has broken the law, eh? Well - I look forward to seeing someone challenge that. But when the Russian minister for sport (someone who has a flexible relationship with laws himself) has already said there is nothing that can be done, I would suggest the move is completely legal. As to the accredited tournaments part...the ATP/WTA/ITF can remove the accreditation if they want.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Exactly Prez. It seems that connecting the dots is a little too difficult for Mark and Nick. The whole thing smacks of pandering to power.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Given current events, it's incumbent on all influential bodies to take steps to ensure that the Russian state is recognised as the world's number one pariah state. That means the Russian flag cannot fly at any major world event (or even minor event for that matter). It's important that both the Russian government (whatever remains of it), and the Russian people note this new reality, and yes, both must be materially affected by it.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Truth is stranger than fiction Nick. Have you never heard of “Six degrees of separation”. There’s a really good movie of that name that came out in 1992. You should check it out. It stars Will Smith. How funny is that. I wonder if he’d be allowed through Wimbledon’s ivy covered gates after his disgraceful performance at the Oscars, they certainly let him stay that night. Anyway, I will leave that one to the ethics police to excuse and let you get on with giving a voice to power. I better go see someone about all those delusions I’ve been having Nick. It would have been easy to check in to a mental home back in the day but of course the neo cons have closed most of them down now. Looks like I will just have to join one of those reportedly enormous queue’s they have in the west these days to see a psychologist.
Prez
Roar Rookie
Your first word was correct. Could have just left it as that instead of digging further.
Prez
Roar Rookie
A "private club" still has to abide by the laws of the country. The club when staging accredited tournaments also agrees to abide by a set of regulations.
Peter
Roar Rookie
WELL SAID COLIN !!
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Absolutely disgraceful, unfair decision. Wimbledon is not like Davis Cup, the players are not there to represent their country, they are there as professional players only representing their own personal interests. Both the APT and the WTA should boycott Wimbledon.
Nick
Roar Guru
Utterly, utterly delusional.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Yes, exactly Nick, they are a private club. A bit like Augusta National, the club that didn’t allow a black member until 1990 is a private club. Like all those very “British” egalitarian clubs on Park Lane. Wimbledon has no need to rely on the public purse. Of course they don’t, they are, as you say, a private club. They have no need for any additional train services or for any extra policing for the duration of the tournament. Nor does it rely for example, on MP support for the proposed 100 million pound extension of the All England Tennis Club. Why, would they care Nick what those in Whitehall think. Whitehall is too busy making sure that that danger to society Julian Assange is safely locked away in Belmarsh maximum security prison as he awaits probable extradition to the “land of the free”. How ironic is that. Ironic too that under Britains current discriminatory laws and the legal framework underpinning those laws, Daniil Medvedev probably has a better chance of appearing at Wimbledon as a trans-gender athlete than he does this year as the International Russian tennis icon that he has so rightly and justifiably become.
Nick
Roar Guru
Why are you comparing what governments do to what a private club is doing? They aren't the same thing. At all.