Seven weeks ago, immediately after Russia attacked Ukraine, almost everyone in the tennis scene quickly agreed: the Russian war should be damned, but tennis professionals born in Russia or Belarus should be able to continue to practice their profession, albeit with restrictions : no more international matches with the national team in the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup, only under a neutral flag in professional tournaments and in the world rankings.

Thomas Klemm

sports editor.

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These speedy sanctions by the professional organizations ATP and WTA and the world association ITF were well received at the beginning of March, especially since other sports associations were hesitating at the same time.

Ukrainian professionals like Elina Switolina also spontaneously supported the approach of supporting their home country in word and deed, but not categorically excluding Russian colleagues from the game and issuing them a quasi-collective professional ban.

But the longer the war lasted, the more the unanimous position collapsed.

In view of the horror in their home country, Ukrainian tennis professionals are now demanding tougher sanctions, and now the organizers of the Wimbledon tournament have also left the previously closed tennis society.

The London All England Club and the British Tennis Association LTA have decided that players from Russia and Belarus are not welcome this summer at the traditional grass tournament on London's Church Road and at all preparatory tournaments on British soil.

Sport is thus experiencing a very special kind of Brexit.

Just don't shine on Russia

"We understand that it is hard for those affected and it is sad that they are suffering at the hands of the Russian regime," Wimbledon Chairman Ian Hewitt said in a statement Wednesday night.

But because Wimbledon is of particular importance in the world of tennis and also has a responsibility towards the government and the economy, the "toughest possible measures" are taken.

The honorable gentlemen of the All England Club would be horrified if, for example, the Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev lifted the winner's trophy at the end of the two weeks of the tournament and thus a sporting representative of the warmonger would shine on Russia.

What Wimbledon does or doesn't do is usually met with a shrug.

According to the motto: They're just different, the Brits.

But this time, going it alone stirs up the spirits like never before.

Novak Djokovic reacted as promptly as clearly at his home tournament in Belgrade.

"I think that's crazy," said the world number one, who was shaped for life by the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

The war cannot be blamed on the players, which is why he will not support the decision, says the Serb.