Wimbledon: Defending Champion Backs Russian, Belarusian Participation
Defending champion of Wimbledon, Elena Rybakina, said the grass-court Grand Slam had taken the correct decision to reverse its ban on Russian and Belarusian players, allowing them to compete at this year’s tournament as “neutral” athletes.
Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam to ban competitors from Russia and Belarus last year after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and players competed as individual athletes without national affiliation at the other majors and the tours.
Organisers said Friday’s move to reverse the ban was an “incredibly difficult decision” and that they “condemn totally Russia’s illegal invasion.” Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation.”
The 23-year-old said that she had no problem with Russian and Belarusian players competing without their national flags.
“They have been playing like this for all the tournaments, so it (Wimbledon) was only Grand Slam they were not allowed,” Rybakina told reporters.
“So I think that’s the way that they are playing, without any flags. I think it’s the right decision, I guess.”
Russian-born Rybakina, who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, claimed the Wimbledon title last year but missed out on 2,000 ranking points as a result of the men’s ATP and women’s WTA penalising the Grand Slam for its ban.
Players will be prohibited from expressing support for the invasion and must not receive funding from Russian or Belarusian states, Wimbledon organisers added.
Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, who stunned world number seven Rybakina 7-6(14) 6-2 in the Miami Open final on Saturday, had opposed the Grand Slam’s decision.
“I’m really appreciating that Wimbledon didn’t take them last year,” Kvitova said on Friday.
Kvitova added that Russia and Belarus athletes should also not be allowed to compete at next year’s Paris Olympics.
