Wimbledon bans Russian, Belarusian players due to warAFP, LONDONWimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s tournament in response to the invasion of Ukraine, but ATP and WTA organizers on Wednesday branded the move “unfair” and “very disappointing.”The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs Wimbledon, said it was acting to “limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.”Russian men’s world No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka — a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year — are the leading players affected by the ban. Photo: AFP“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players,” the club said in a statement. ATP and WTA bosses said that the Wimbledon ban is discriminatory and sets a damaging precedent. “The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it [war].

Source: Taipei Times April 22, 2022 00:47 UTC