dpa
Berlin
Men’s tennis world number one Novak Djokovic has labelled the ban on Russian and Belarusian players competing at Wimbledon this summer as "crazy.” The All England Club announced the move on Wednesday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The LTA, British tennis’ governing body, said they would also prevent players competing in other tournaments in the country.
The ATP and WTA Tours, who have allowed players from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutrals, reacted with disappointment at the first blanket bans being imposed on players.
And they received high profile backing from Serbian star Djokovic, who is currently playing his home tournament in Belgrade.
"I will always condemn war, I will never support war being myself a child of war,” he said, having grown up during the civil wars which followed the collapse of Yugoslavia.
"The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it (war). When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.” World number two Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Djokovic in the US Open final last year, is one of the stars now set to miss out on the grass-court major which takes place June 27-July 10.
Berlin
Men’s tennis world number one Novak Djokovic has labelled the ban on Russian and Belarusian players competing at Wimbledon this summer as "crazy.” The All England Club announced the move on Wednesday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The LTA, British tennis’ governing body, said they would also prevent players competing in other tournaments in the country.
The ATP and WTA Tours, who have allowed players from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutrals, reacted with disappointment at the first blanket bans being imposed on players.
And they received high profile backing from Serbian star Djokovic, who is currently playing his home tournament in Belgrade.
"I will always condemn war, I will never support war being myself a child of war,” he said, having grown up during the civil wars which followed the collapse of Yugoslavia.
"The players, the tennis players, the athletes have nothing to do with it (war). When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.” World number two Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Djokovic in the US Open final last year, is one of the stars now set to miss out on the grass-court major which takes place June 27-July 10.