The British Tennis Association has been fined one million US dollars (approx. 950,000 euros) by the players’ association ATP. The reason for this is that the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) had excluded Russian and Belarusian players from five ATP events in Great Britain in 2022 due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. If it is repeated, the association is even threatened with a ban.
As British media consistently reported, the LTA is threatened with exclusion from the ATP tour if players are excluded from the tournaments again next year. Daniil Medvedev and Co. were also not allowed to start in Wimbledon this year. At the LTA, those responsible reacted with incomprehension. “The LTA is deeply disappointed with this outcome,” it said in a statement.
The ATP showed no understanding of the extraordinary circumstances. “The ATP appears to be viewing this matter as a direct breach of its rules – with a surprising lack of empathy for the situation in Ukraine and a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances faced by the LTA.”
WTA penalty appealed
The British Tennis Association had previously been fined $1 million by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for banning Russian and Belarusian players, but has appealed the decision. Those responsible left open how the association will react to the sanctions of the ATP. “We will carefully consider our response and we await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA’s decision and sanctions.”
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