By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 24, 2022
The ongoing dispute between Wimbledon and the ATP is a double fault says Denis Shapovalov.
Wimbledon semifinalist Shapovalov fell in the Roland Garros first round to 19-year-old Danish sensation Holger Rune in straight sets today.
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Afterward, Shapovalov was asked his reaction to the ATP stripping Wimbledon of ranking points. The ATP's action came in response to Wimbledon banning Russian and Belarusian players in condemnation of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Shapovalov said both sides are wrong.
"I don't agree with either. I think first of all, if you have a pro competition, that everybody should be competing," Shapovalov told the media in Paris. "I completely understand the politics and the situation they're in.
"But again, if you have a tennis tournament that's supposed to have the best athletes in the world, it shouldn't matter where you're from, this and that, you know? So everybody should be competing."
The Canadian left-hander asserts players, including himself, who went deep at SW19 last summer could pay the price in potential ranking plummets because of the ATP's decision to eliminate ranking points.
"I also don't agree with the ATP to take out all the points," Shapovalov said. "The most guys it's affecting are the guys in the top rankings. Obviously Novak, me, Hubi [Hurkacz], Berrettini, who is not playing here, we're going to drop a lot.
"So it's difficult. Yeah, it's difficult."
Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova called the decision to remove ranking points "super tough and unfair and a bad decision."
"I mean, it's quite bad, especially for me because of course there is Barty but I don't think she's really going to miss the points. But, yeah, it is what it is," Pliskova said. "I think it's super tough and unfair and bad decision, that's what I think. But I suppose there's not much you can do about it.
"I still want to go and compete there, that's for sure, because I'm not playing because of the points, not even because of the money. I just, of course, I want to win and I want to succeed and I want to maybe get the trophy because I was quite close last year."
The 14th-seeded Shapovalov said the ATP could have opted to cut Wimbledon ranking points in half, which would still show the grass-court Grand Slam there are consequences for its ban without setting up players to pay a severe rankings price.
"I think they could have gone with it a different way, maybe keep 50 percent like they have in the past or some kind of fairness," Shapovalov said. "But even a guy like [Marton] Fucsovics is going to drop out of the top 100, you know."
Asked if he was consulted before the ATP's decision, Shapovalov replied "No, nothing. Not at all. I think most of the time most players aren't consulted."
Former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko suggests this is not the final decision in the Tours vs. Wimbledon imbroglio.
After her Roland Garros first-round victory, Ostapenko told the media in Paris she believes the ATP and WTA "maybe are going to change their mind" on stripping Wimbledon's ranking points.
"It has to be fair to everyone. Of course we players can say our opinions, but I feel like still we are not the ones who are making the decision," Ostapenko said. "There are of course a lot of rumors and talks, but I think maybe they are going to change their mind. I'm not sure about points. But I think a lot of things may happen within the next, like, week or two weeks.
"That's my personal opinion. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. But we will see what's gonna happen. But, I mean, if there are no points, I'm not really sure what I'm gonna do."
Photo credit: Getty