WTA reacts with the threat of sanctions against the exclusion of the Russians
As things stand, a player like Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka, fourth in the world rankings, would be undesirable at Wimbledon
Source: dpa/Christian Kaspar-Bartke
The organizers of the Wimbledon tournament are increasingly threatened with adversity. In addition to celebrities like Djokovic, the women’s organization WTA is now protesting against the decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian participants. The proposed counter-sanction is radical.
DAccording to the French sports newspaper “L’Equipe”, the women’s tennis organization WTA is considering sanctions against Wimbledon because the tournament organizers want to exclude Russian and Belarusian professionals this year. The newspaper reported this, citing a corresponding email from WTA boss Steve Simon, which it says it has.
In it, the American condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Simon also points out that no player has ever been denied participation in a tournament due to the actions of their respective government.
The exclusion announced by the Wimbledon organizers on Wednesday violates the Grand Slam rules and the rules of the WTA. The grass classic, taking place in London from June 27th to July 10th, is the third of the four Grand Slam tournaments, which are the most important events of the tennis season.
Rejection of Wimbledon decision grows
The WTA also shows the players from Russia and Belarus in its world rankings as the only nations without their national flags, a silent, public protest against the aggression of their countries. The WTA believes that the measure taken by the Wimbledon makers is too harsh.
However, as one of the possible sanctions, Simon mentioned that the world ranking points earned in Wimbledon would not be counted. It would be a radical tit for tat. In Madrid, where a large joint tournament of women and men will take place next week, a meeting attended by tournament bosses, representatives of the players and the WTA should discuss the next steps.
Women’s tennis icon Billie Jean King, who played a key role in founding the WTA almost 50 years ago, also spoke out against the Wimbledon decision. “I cannot support the exclusion of individual athletes from tournaments just because of their nationality,” wrote the 78-year-old on Twitter. Instead, the focus should be on financial support for Ukraine.
