Russia: Nadal, Djokovic slam Wimbledon ban
MADRID –
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic criticized Wimbledon’s choice to exclude Russian and Belarus gamers from this 12 months’s match following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 2 tennis greats stated Sunday that Wimbledon had acted unfairly.
“I believe it is very unfair of (on) my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues … it isn’t their fault what’s taking place on this second with the warfare,” Nadal, a 21-time Grand Slam winner, stated in Spain the place each he and Djokovic are getting ready to play within the Madrid Open.
“I am sorry for them,” Nadal stated. “Wimbledon simply took their choice … the federal government did not power them to do it.”
Nadal added: “Let’s examine what occurs within the subsequent weeks, if the gamers will take some form of choice in that regard.”
The ATP and WTA tennis excursions have each publicly criticized the All England Membership’s choice which was introduced April 20.
Wimbledon begins on June 27.
The outstanding gamers affected by the ban embrace reigning U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who’re all from Russia. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, which has aided Russian forces, would even be unable to play.
Djokovic in contrast the state of affairs of the excluded gamers to what he went by in January when he was unable to play the Australian Open. He was deported from Australia for not being vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
“It isn’t the identical factor, however going by one thing comparable earlier this 12 months for myself, it is irritating realizing that you just’re not capable of play,” Djokovic stated. “I nonetheless stand by my place that I do not assist the (Wimbledon) choice. I believe it is simply not truthful, it isn’t proper, however it’s what it’s.”
The All England Membership had justified its motion in an announcement first posted on Twitter.
“Within the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented navy aggression, it will be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any advantages from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian gamers with The Championships,” the assertion stated.
