Tennis: Svitolina calls for the "exclusion" of Russian and Belarusian players from the circuit

This call from the Ukrainian player, who has been walking away from tournaments in recent weeks, comes as Wimbledon organizers announced that Russian and Belarusian players will not be allowed to participate in the next edition (June 27-July 10). .

Beyond the London event, Elina Svitolina demands that Russians and Belarusians be excluded from the entire circuit if they do not position themselves clearly against the war, according to terms which she specifies.

"We ask that the WTA (which runs the women's pro circuit), the ATP (men's pro circuit), and the ITF (International Federation) ensure that players representing Russia and Belarus answer the following questions: 1 Do you support the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Belarus and thus the war that was provoked by these two countries? 2. Do you support Russian and Belarusian military activities in Ukraine? 3. Do you support the Putin and Lukashenko regimes?”, is it written in a press release that she posted on her social networks.

"Depending on the responses, we demand the exclusion and banishment of Russian and Belarusian athletes from all international competition, as Wimbledon did," continues this text, also posted by other Ukrainian players.

"There comes a time when silence is akin to treason and that time has come", concludes the text, considering in passing that the statements made by certain Russian and Belarusian players against the war have not been sufficiently virulent.

Russia and Belarus have been excluded by the ITF from national team competitions (Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, of which Russia is the title holder), but the WTA and ATP accept players from these two countries as individual provided they compete under a neutral banner.

The four Grand Slam tournaments operate independently of the WTA and ATP.

The Australian Open took place before the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5) is the first Major scheduled since its start and has not yet planned to exclude the Russians and Belarusians, just like the US Open (August 29-September 11).

© 2022 AFP