Wimbledon still face an awkward clash with the sport’s most influential voices over the decision to ban Russian players from this year’s tournament.
The extent of the disagreement became clear on Sunday when Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic – who have won ten of the last thirteen men’s singles titles – weighed in on the issue splitting tennis.
While Nadal came out strongly against barring Russians and Belarussians, even Murray stopped short of endorsing the All England Club’s position.
The 34 year-old Scot was, however, more circumspect, and recognised the complexity of the situation, stating ‘I don’t think there’s a right answer’. Murray also criticised the UK government’s guidance on the matter, and its demand that players sign anti-invasion pledges.
The ATP and WTA tours are currently trying to work out their responses to the move of Wimbledon and other British tournaments to bar players from nations prosecuting the war in Ukraine.
Djokovic reiterated his stance against the measure, but believes that any action will stop short of stripping SW19 of ranking points, thus making it effectively an exhibition event.
Nadal, who has been lying low while recovering from injury, had a stronger reaction to Wimbledon’s position than might have been expected.
Andy Murray insists he is not supportive of Wimbledon's ban on Russian athletes at SW19
‘I think it's very unfair on my Russian colleagues,’ he said. ‘In the sense it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war. In that sense, talking about colleagues, I'm sorry for them. I wish it was not this way.’
He is clearly not impressed with the insistence of British tennis that Whitehall had left them with little realistic option in circumstances the All England Club has described as ‘exceptional.’
‘The government gave a recommendation, and Wimbledon just took their decision, the more drastic position that they could take without taking into account…the government didn't force them to do it,’ added the Spaniard.
