Wimbledon lifts ban on Russian and Belarusian players with new conditions agreed
The Lawn Tennis Association has confirmed Wimbledon will welcome Russian and Belarusian players back in 2023 following last year's ban.
Players from the two countries were prevented from competing at the 2022 edition of the grass-court major amid their involvement in the ongoing siege against Ukraine. The ATP and WTA responded by stripping the tournament of its ranking points, with further sanctions threatened if the ban was kept in place this year.
Russian and Belarusian athletes will still be required to compete as 'neutrals', while they must also adhere to a strict set of conditions. This agreement will “prohibit expressions of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in various forms and prohibit entry by players receiving funding from the Russian and/or Belarusian states.”
Ukraine's foreign minister has branded the decision "immoral" and called on the UK government to deny players from the two countries visas.
In addition to having Wimbledon's ranking points stripped, the LTA incurred significant fines last year as a result of the ban. It also faced the prospect of losing its licence to host events at Queens, Eastbourne, Birmingham and Nottingham—this year and in the future—unless it ended the suspension.
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“We continue to condemn totally Russia’s illegal invasion and our wholehearted support remains with the people of Ukraine," said All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt in a statement on Friday. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted.
“It is our view that, considering all factors, these are the most appropriate arrangements for The Championships for this year. We are thankful for the Government’s support as we and our fellow tennis stakeholder bodies have navigated this complex matter and agreed on conditions we believe are workable.
Russian stars like Daniil Medvedev will be among those allowed to play at Wimbledon 2023 after last year's ban (PA)“If circumstances change materially between now and the commencement of The Championships, we will consider and respond accordingly.”
Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: "“Wimbledon’s decision to permit the participation of Russian and Belarusian players is immoral. Has Russia ceased its aggression or atrocities? No, it’s just that Wimbledon decided to accommodate two accomplices in crime. I call on the UK Government to deny visas to their players.”
Among those set to return at Wimbledon is 2021 U.S. Open-winner and world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, while world No. 7 Andrey Rublev and world No. 16 Karen Khachanov will also be expected to feature in the men's draw. Medvedev, 27, made a career-best run to the fourth round at SW19 in 2021, having reached at least the quarter-finals of every other major to date.
In the women's side of the bracket, Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka will be backed to make a run at the title after winning her first major in Australia earlier this year. World No. 8 Daria Kasatkina and world No. 16 Victoria Azarenka are also among the high-profile names set to return, while the reigning champion, Elena Rybakina, was born in Moscow but has represented Kazakhstan since 2018.
Australian Open champion and Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka will be expected to contest the title at Wimbledon (Getty Images)The LTA said it was "disappointed by the penalties" given its long-held stance on the invasion of Ukraine, and the sanctions placed upon it as a result. However, it added the effect of having its licence cancelled and losing the right to host the aforementioned tournaments would be "very damaging and far reaching" for English tennis.
"The impact would be felt by the millions of fans that follow the sport, the grass roots of the game, including coaches and venues which rely on the events for visibility and to bring new players into the game, and of course professional British players," the organisation concluded.
Former tennis pro Sergiy Stakhovsky—who is serving in Ukraine's National Guard during the invasion—urged organisers to extend the Wimbledon ban last month, insisting the war "has got worse" more than a year on. "Unfortunately Wimbledon didn’t find any support in any of the other Slams, but I guess that is what makes Wimbledon special. It was never about the money. Wimbledon is about different values and they always stood out.”
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