Ang world number one Novak Djokoviccalled “absurd madness” Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing in the third Grand Slam on the calendar due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Wimbledon announced on Wednesday that it had banned all Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s tournament because of the aggression, which Russia called a “special operation”.
The grass-court Grand Slam was the first tennis tournament to ban singles players from the same country, namely world number two Daniil Medvedev of Russia and fourth-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will not be able to participate in the tournament from June 27 to July 10.
Djokovic, who grew up in Serbia, said the athletes had nothing to do with the current fight. “I will always condemn war, I will never support war as a child of war myself,” Djokovic told reporters at ATP Belgrade. “I know the emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans we have had a lot of wars in recent history. However, I can’t support the Wimbledon decision, I think it is “When politics interferes with the sport, the result is not good,” Nole added.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club decision was criticized by ATP and WTA circuits. Wimbledon said it would “consider and respond accordingly” if circumstances change between now and June.
Source: La Verdad
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