If there was never any question of Roland-Garros doing the same thing as Wimbledon (June 27-July 10), the question may have arisen. But according to RMC Sport, the Parisian Grand Slam refuses to sanction individual players and maintains its decision which has always been the following: Russians and Belarusians will be able to compete in the French Open (from May 22 to June 5) respecting the principle of strict neutrality. As announced by the ATP and the WTA at the start of the conflict, players will be able to play on the clay courts of Porte d’Auteuil but under a neutral banner and their national anthem will not be played if a player from this nationality had to prevail.
Daniil Medvedev, world n°2 and finalist of the last Grand Slam tournament in January in Australia, Andrey Rublev (8th in the world), Aryna Sabalenka (4th and semi-finalist last year), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15th) or even Viktoria Azarenka (ex-n°1, today 18th) will therefore be able to set foot on the courts of Roland-Garros. Even if a great uncertainty, moreover, surrounds Medvedev, barely recovered from a hernia operation and little adept on clay…
Read alsoWimbledon: the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians disrupts the tennis planet
After Russia invaded Ukraine, only Russian and Belarusian national teams were banned from Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competitions. Wimbledon justified its decision by a new regulation of England concerning the Russian and Belarusian sportsmen. All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said at a press conference on Tuesday: We believe that this is an extreme and exceptional situation that takes us far beyond the sole interests of tennis (…) Firstly, even if we accepted the registrations of Russian and Belarusian players with written declarations, we would risk that their success or their participation in Wimbledon is used for the benefit of the propaganda machine of the Russian regime – which we cannot accept. Secondly, we have a duty to ensure that none of our actions endangers the safety or wellbeing of players, or their families.»
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