By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Daniil Medvedev brands Wimbledon's ban of Russians and Belarusians "unfair" and suggests it could set unsettling precedent.
Last month, Wimbledon announced its ban on Russians and Belarusians in condemnation of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. AELTC officials said they don't want to provide Russian President Vladimir Putin a potential platform for propaganda at the grass-court Grand Slam.
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Second-ranked Russian Medvedev along with compatriots Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka are among the stars banned from The Championships under Wimbledon's ruling.
“On the one hand, I can understand it and, on the other, I find it unfair. This is a delicate situation because it sets a precedent and puts other sports competitions in an uncomfortable position,” Medvedev told Tribune de Geneve in an interview.
The US Open champion called out a double standard in British policy for self-employed Russians, but said he will accept Wimbledon's ruling.
“Having discussed this with the ATP, we tennis players are considered by law to be self-employed," Medvevev said in comments published by Tribune de Geneve. “Currently in the United Kingdom, Russian self-employed workers have the right to work.
"So if I have the opportunity to play Wimbledon, I’d be delighted. If not, I would accept it.”
The Championships announced on April 20th given "Russia's illegal actions" it "would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships."
"We share in the universal condemnation of Russia’s illegal actions and have carefully considered the situation in the context of our duties to the players, to our community and to the broader UK public as a British sporting institution," Wimbledon said in a statement posted on its website. "We have also taken into account guidance set out by the UK Government specifically in relation to sporting bodies and events.
"Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia’s global influence through the strongest means possible.
"In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships. It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022."
Both the ATP and WTA have publicly opposed Wimbledon's ban and are discussing either stripping Wimbledon of ranking points or potentially offering players the option of choosing their best result from either the 2021 or 2022 Wimbledon.
If the latter plan is approved it means Medvedev could retain the ranking points from his round of 16 Wimbledon performance last summer.
The Australian Open finalist, who underwent hernia surgery at the beginning of April, said he's not part of the ATP Player Council and is unaware of potential measures the Tour will take.
“I was far from the circuit and I am not part of the Players Council. So I’m not too aware of it,” said Medvedev. “I listen and I have the principle of respecting all opinions.
"You know, out of 100 people, there are 95 who see the yellow tennis ball and 5 percent green. We cannot all agree.”
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