Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina said she was glad that last year the organizers of Wimbledon did not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in the tournament. The lyrics are quoted by Big Tennis of Ukraine.
“I was happy that last year they decided to suspend the Russian and Belarusian tennis players because as Ukrainians we fought for it.
We tried to talk to the organizers of the competition with the ATP, WTA, ITF, tried to explain what happened, why other sports decided to ban it and why tennis did not. We are very grateful to Wimbledon for this decision.
Due to too much pressure from tennis authorities, they had to change their approach. This was an expected step, because the organizers do not want to lose the Major and we have to accept that, ”said Svitolina.
Wimbledon 2023 will start on July 3 and run until July 16. Russians and Belarusians will be admitted to the tournament if they sign a declaration of neutrality. Russian and Belarusian tennis players were denied the right to participate in Wimbledon due to the CBO being held on Ukrainian soil in 2022.
The BBC website reports that athletes from Russia and Belarus also have to present proof of their refusal to sponsor companies that fall under British sanctions.
Former Wimbledon rules changed Due to menstrual bleeding in tennis players.