Andy Murray, former number one in the world, slipped that the Russians and Belarusians will be able to play again at Wimbledon, after the veto last year, and that It wouldn’t seem “crazy” for this to happen.
The Russians and Belarusians could not play the 2022 edition due to the veto placed on them by the London Grand Slam after the invasion of Ukraine. Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slams to carry out this veto and that cost them a million-dollar penalty from the ATP and WTA, in addition to the fact that the tournament did not distribute points.
“It’s a very difficult thing and I’m sorry for the players who couldn’t be there last year,” Murray told the BBC. “But I also understand what the situation is and why it’s so difficult for Wimbledon to make a decision,” he said.
“From what I understand, this year they are going to let them play and it would not seem crazy to me if it were so. If Wimbledon makes another decision, I would also understand it,” admitted the winner of three Majors.
I understand what the situation is and why it is so difficult for Wimbledon to make a decision
To add to the pressure on Wimbledon, the ATP and WTA threatened to withdraw the license to the pre-Wimbledon tournaments that are played on British soil, such as Queen’s, which would be a very important economic blow for the British tennis federation. In addition, in case Russians and Belarusians were allowed to participate, economic sanctions from last year would be cut in half.
