Wimbledon nonetheless enthusiastic about Russian participation

Wimbledon has not decided on the participation of Russian and Belarusian gamers on this yr’s grass-court Grand Slam, organizers advised Reuters on Friday, including that talks with key stakeholders are persevering with.

The All England Garden Tennis Membership and the Garden Tennis Affiliation had banned gamers from the 2 international locations from collaborating in tournaments held in Britain following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus is a key enviornment.

Wimbledon had mentioned that banning gamers from the 2 international locations was their solely viable possibility underneath the steering supplied by the British authorities.

The Grand Slam had its rating factors stripped, and the ladies’s and males’s excursions fined the LTA and AELTC.

“We have now not but decided on tickets for The Championships 2023,” a spokesman for the AELTC, which organizes Wimbledon, advised Reuters. “We proceed to work very carefully with the UK authorities and key tennis stakeholders on this matter.”

This yr’s match is scheduled to happen from July 3-16.

Wimbledon was the one Grand Slam to ban rivals from Russia and Belarus final yr. The gamers competed as particular person athletes with no nationwide affiliation on the different majors.

The Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from the Melbourne Park venue on the Australian Open earlier this yr following a grievance from the Ukrainian ambassador to the nation.

ukrainian participant elina svitolina mentioned final month that the Wimbledon ban should proceed.

Russia’s former world #1 daniel medvedev He mentioned he would respect any resolution Wimbledon makes. Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus echoed his sentiments, saying the choice was out of his management.

Two-time Wimbledon champion andy murray He mentioned this week that he hoped Wimbledon organizers would permit Russian and Belarusian gamers to compete within the Grand Slam.