Rafael Nadal said the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players from the Wimbledon tournament in response to the invasion of Ukraine was a “very unfair” decision on Sunday before the tournament in Madrid.
Very unfairconsidered Nadal, who became the most sacred player in a grand slam with the 21st trophy won in Australia at the start of the year.
They can’t do much, can they? How do they blame what is happening at the moment, the war ?, asked the 35-year-old Spaniard. I really feel sorry for them.
This is very unfair for them, but unfortunately I will say that at present, if it is very complicated for these players, what is happening is so sad that ultimately what is happening in our sport is almost nothing relationship when so many people are dying and suffering.underlined the former number one in the world.
Wimbledon announced ten days ago its decision to exclude Russians and Belarusians from its 2022 edition (June 27-July 10) due to the invasion of Ukraine. Among the players affected were world number 2 Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev (no. 8) – who called him a absolute discrimination -, Aryna Sabalenka (no 4) or even Victoria Azarenka (ex-no 1, now 17th).
This decision was a first in world tennis and was immediately criticized by the ATP and the WTA. In the two professional circuits, Russians and Belarusians are allowed to play under a neutral banner. Their national teams, on the other hand, are not included in the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
When a government takes steps, it must be followed. In this case, the (British) government gave the recommendation and Wimbledon took its decision, as violently as possible, without the obligation to take it.Nadal mentions.
Novak Djokovic, who called the decision a madsaid to maintain its position on Sunday. I think this is not fairreaffirmed the world No. 1, which yields the possibility to act on the variable of points distributed at Wimbledon, for example by preventing Russians and Belarusians from participating.
Source: Radio-Canada
