By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, March 31, 2023
Wimbledon will lift its ban on Russian and Belarusian players permitting them to play the 2023 Championships.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Wimbledon will welcome a full field this summer.
The All England Club announced it will lift its ban on Russian and Belarusians permitting them to play the 2023 Championships.
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Russian and Belarusian stars, including 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and reigning Australian Open champion and 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist Aryna Sabalenka, will be permitted to play the grass-court Grand Slam under neutral flag and other AELTC protocol.
Russians and Belarusians were banned from the 2022 Wimbledon in condemnation of Russia's unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
"We continue to condemn totally Russia's illegal invasion and our wholehearted support remains with the people of Ukraine," said AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt in a statement. "This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted."
In order to play Wimbledon and the LTA's grass-court season, Russians and Belarusians must:
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Agree not to support the Russian and/or Belarusian states or their regimes and leaders
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Not receiving funding from Russian and/or Belarusian states, including sponsorship from companies operated or controlled by those states
The AELTC said in a statement it created those conditions after consultation with the British government.
"The conditions have been carefully developed through constructive dialogue with the UK Government, the LTA and international stakeholder bodies in tennis, and are aligned with the Government’s published guidance to sporting bodies in the UK," officials said in a statement.
About 90 minutes after Medvedev defeated Russian compatriot Karen Khachanov in today's Miami Open semifinal, he met the media and said he's thrilled to return. Medvedev also said he's confident he meets the criteria to return as he is not sponsored by any Russian-state or controlled companies. Medvedev's primary sponsors, Lacoste and Tecnifibre, are French brands.
"I'm really happy. I always said that I love this tournament," Medvedev said of Wimbledon. "It's the only Grand Slam, which is surprising when we have Roland Garros, that I didn't make quarters yet, and I want to do better. I think I lost, what, five sets to Hubi [Hurkacz] and to [David] Goffin maybe was third round five sets.
"But anyway, I had some tough losses there. I want to try to turn this around. It's a beautiful tournament, beautiful Grand Slam. I'm really happy that I'm going to be able to play there this year."
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova told the media in Miami she supports Ukrainians and believes Russians and Belarusians shouldn't be allowed to compete at Wimbledon or the Olympics because of the invasion.
"I always state like against the war. For sure I'm just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players," Kvitova said. "I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points, that Belarusian and Russian didn't play.
"And I think they shouldn't be allowed, actually, in my opinion, either to Olympics. I'm just still a bit on the Ukrainian side of this."
The ATP and WTA Tours released this joint statement.
"We are pleased that all players will have an opportunity to compete at Wimbledon and LTA events this summer. It has taken a collaborative effort across the sport to arrive at a workable solution which protects the fairness of the game. This remains an extremely difficult situation and we would like to thank Wimbledon and the LTA for their efforts in reaching this outcome, while reiterating our unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine"."
Wimbledon is set for July 3-16th.