Photo / APTennis players from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to play at Wimbledon this year because of the war in Ukraine, the All England Club announced overnight. Among the prominent men's players affected by the ban are reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who recently reached No. The All England Club said that if "circumstances change materially between now and June," it would "respond accordingly". Some current and former tennis players from Ukraine — including two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Elina Svitolina and the recently retired Sergiy Stakhovsky — put up a statement on Twitter on Wednesday that called on the WTA, ATP and International Tennis Federation to ask players representing Russia and Belarus whether they support the invasion of Ukraine. "We noticed that some Russian and Belarusian players at some point vaguely mentioned the war, but never clearly stating that Russia and Belarus started it on the territory of Ukraine."

Source: New Zealand Herald April 20, 2022 20:13 UTC