Wimbledon explains key factors that influenced controversial ban

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) have explained their decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this years Wimbledon Championships, with the decision being based on “directive guidance” from the UK government.  

On Wednesday, the AELTC and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) announced the banning of the two European nations from this years event as a result of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.

This ban means that the likes of world number two Daniil Medvedev and world number four Aryna Sabalenka cannot compete this summer.

In addition to these top seeds, there are three more Russian men in the top 30 of the ATP rankings, and six Russian and Belarusian players in the top 32 of the WTA rankings who would have been seeds at Wimbledon.

The decision to ban both sets of players has received widespread criticism from many in the tennis world, including world number one Novak Djokovic who branded the sanctions as “crazy”, with 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova labeling the ban as the “wrong decision”. 

Now, the AELTC have explained why they sanctioned the Russian and Belarussian players.

In their annual spring press conference, Chairman Ian Hewitt and Chief Executive Sally Bolton explained that the ban was the only “viable option” in light of UK government guidance – with the main aim being to limit Russian influence.

The Chairman of the AELTC expressed how the guidance did not permit direct entry into tournament based on rankings alone, leaving them with two options – “declining entries or allowing entries but with only specific written declarations from individual players.”

After “lengthy and careful consideration” they were able to draw two firm conclusions which informed their final decision to issue a blanket ban over all players from the two nations.

Hewitt explained, “Even if we were to accept entries with a declaration,” it would “risk their success or participation being used to benefit the propaganda machine of Russian regime.”

The announcement also went on to say, with regards to player welfare that they “made the most responsible decision possible in the circumstances” as there was a “duty to ensure that no actions they take should put the safety of players of families at risk”.

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