In 2023, Wimbledon wants to avoid controversy. At the end of March, the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced that players from Russia and Belarus could participate in the most prestigious lawn tournament of the year, unlike last season. While this decision was deemed immoral by Ukraine, the organizer of the event has chosen to concretely support the country invaded by Russia since last year.
« In partnership with the LTA (the British tennis federation, Editor’s note)we will donate one pound sterling for every ticket holder in the tournament this year to Ukrainian relief, which will represent a contribution of more than half a million pounds sterling ”(more than 560,000 euros), assured Ian Hewitt.
The chairman of the All England Club added that the tournament was working with the Councils of Merton and Wandsworth (municipalities in Greater London), as well as the Red Cross, to “invite 1,000 Ukrainian refugees” for a day at Wimbledon, including tickets, food, drinks and transport.
Since the start of the invasion, several Ukrainian tenniswomen and tennis players have regularly underlined their unease at playing against Russian or Belarusian athletes. Ian Hewitt also explained that nationals of the country scarred by the war will benefit from certain advantages. “For Ukrainian players, the All England Club and the LTA will fund two-bedroom accommodation costs for all main draw and qualifying players for the entire grass-court season,” he said.
These athletes will also be able to train on the courts of the All England Club or Surbiton between their last match on clay at Roland-Garros and the Saturday before qualifying at Wimbledon.
