Andrey Rublev reveals Wimbledon reasons for Russian ban, admitting: ‘I couldn’t understand…’
Andrey Rublev says Russian players ‘offered solutions’ to Wimbledon chiefs in an attempt to avoid them being banned from playing in the tournament, but they were rejected.
Players from Russia and Belarus were not permitted to play the tournament this year in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
That left Andrey Rublev out in the cold alongside the likes of ATP world number one Daniil Medvedev and, but he has revealed they did all they could to avoid it.
“We offered some solutions that could be really helpful diplomatically – playing in mixed doubles with Ukrainians or not coming for the medals,” Rublev said.
“We wanted to use the platform of a championship to show that we don’t fight here, that there is no war in tennis. It’s most important now.
“Everyone is working as hard as possible and attending other tournaments just to get to the four Grand Slams and show their best. Of course, I was frustrated when I found out about the suspension.
“Everything I earn, I invest in my career and then I am forbidden from doing my work. It is upsetting for sure.”
The decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players was a controversial one, but Wimbledon were adamant from the start they were not going to relent.
Whilst many couldn’t understand the reasons behind it, Rublev says officials did at least give them their reasons – even if he couldn’t understand them himself.
“As a tennis player, I could deliver the right message from the court but I kept getting the same answer: The Russian government is going to use our results for propaganda.
“So whatever I’d say, the answer was, and is, the same. I couldn’t understand why they say so.”
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