U.S. Open officials will allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in their tournament in late summer, despite the ongoing aggression in Ukraine that has prompted Wimbledon officials to block access to their event.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Lew Sherr, CEO and General Manager of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), explained that the USTA Board of Directors has decided to host Russian and Belarusian athletes because of the concern to hold individual athletes accountable for the actions and decisions of their governments.
Sherr said athletes from Russia and Belarus will play at Flushing Meadows under the neutral flag, a measure used in various tournaments, including the French Open, which ended on June 5th.
Since Russia launched its attacks on Ukraine in February, Russian athletes have been banned from several sporting competitions, including the final round of qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Belarus assisted Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is also not included in the Billie-Jean-King Cup and the Davis Cup, two international tennis team competitions. Russia is the defending champion of both tournaments.
All England Club officials announced in April that athletes from Russia and Belarus would not take part in the tournament, which starts on June 27. This means that Russian Daniil Medvedev, world number one, will lose.
The US Open starts on August 29 in New York and Medvedev is the defending champion.
Associated Press
Source: Radio-Canada
