Rafael Nadal called the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon in response to the Ukraine invasion a "very unfair" decision on Sunday before entering the Madrid tournament.

"They can't do much, can they?"

In what way is what is happening at the moment, the war, their fault?

I'm really sorry for them, said the man with 21 Grand Slam titles.

It's very unfair for them but unfortunately (…) what happens in our sport is almost irrelevant when there are so many people dying and suffering.

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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 concerned are in particular the world number 2 Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev (n ° 8) - who described it as "totally discriminatory" -, Aryna Sabalenka (n ° 4) or Victoria Azarenka, former number 1 world.

A boost in points?

This decision, a first in world tennis, was immediately strongly criticized by the ATP and the WTA.

On the two professional circuits, Russians and Belarusians are authorized to play under a neutral banner.

Their national teams, on the other hand, were excluded from the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

“When a government takes measures, they must be followed.

In this case, the (British) government gave a recommendation and Wimbledon took its decision, as drastic as possible, without obligation to take it,” noted Nadal.

Novak Djokovic, who called the decision "crazy", said he was "maintaining (his) position" on Sunday.

"I think it's unfair," reaffirmed the leader of the ATP rankings, referring to the possibility of acting on the variable of the points distributed at Wimbledon, for example by keeping those of the Russians and Belarusians prevented from participating.

Sport

War in Ukraine: ATP denounces the "unfair" exclusion of Russian players at Wimbledon

Sport

War in Ukraine: ATP denounces the "unfair" exclusion of Russian players at Wimbledon

  • Sport

  • Tennis

  • Rafael Nadal

  • Wimbledon

  • War in Ukraine

  • Novak Djokovic

  • Daniel Medvedev