Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players gets mixed reaction, with Djokovic speaking against it

TENNIS CHANNEL LIVE: Wimbledon won't permit Russian or Belarusian players to play

There have been mixed reactions from players on Wimbledon's decision not to allow Russians or Belarusians to compete at this year's grass-court Grand Slam tournament.

The All England Club, which runs Wimbledon, announced that it would "decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players" due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with participation from Belarus.

"We have very carefully considered the alternative measures that might be taken within the UK Government guidance, "said Ian Hewitt, chairman of the All England Club, in a statement. "But given the high-profile environment of the Championships, the importance of not allowing the sport to be used to promote the Russian regime, and our broader concerns for public and player (including family) safety, we do not believe it is viable to proceed on any other basis."

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which runs the British grass-court warm-up events leading up to Wimbledon, will join the ban.

It was criticized by both the ATP and WTA, who called the decision "discrimination based on nationality" against players "competing on their own as individuals" and was against their agreement with the tournaments.

Players were similarly divided. Ukrainians Marta Kostyuk, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Sergiy Stakohvsky all backed the move.

They also issued statements calling on the ATP, WTA and ITF to require Russian players to state their positions on the conflict and their government, saying that "silence" or "vaguely" anti-war comments were not enough. Both Dolgopolov and Shakhovsky have returned to Ukraine and joined the military since the start of the conflict.

But other players, including world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, are opposed to Russians and Belarusians not being allow to compete.

"As a child of war, I know what kind of emotional trauma war leaves," Djokovic was quoted as saying during this week's Serbia Open in Belgrade. "Ordinary people always suffer, we've had a lot of wars in the Balkans.

"That being said," he added, he "cannot support" Wimbledon's decision, noting, ''It's not the athletes' fault."

Among those also critical of the decision were John Millman, Reilly Opelka and Miomir Kecmanovic.

Rohan Bopanna noted the conflict between Wimbledon's position and the ATP and WTA tours, saying the sport should have a unified position.

On the ATP and WTA, players from Russian and Belarus are allowed to keep competing as neutral athletes. The French Open has not changed its plans for its upcoming Slam.