Last Updated: March 08, 2023, 17:02 IST
Andy Murray has mentioned he’ll “not be going nuts” if Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to feature at this year’s Wimbledon, even though the British tennis great would have mixed emotions regarding their return.
Murray, 35, received the ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for 2022 after donating more than £500,000 ($592,000, 562,000 euros) in prize money to help children in Ukraine affected by Russia’s invasion, but has previously said he was “not supportive” of final yr’s ban.
But British media reviews final week instructed the ban was about to be lifted, with three-time main winner Murray telling the BBC: “It’s a extremely troublesome one and I do really feel for the gamers who weren’t capable of play final yr — however I additionally perceive the state of affairs and why it’s actually onerous for Wimbledon to make a name on it as effectively.”
The Scot added: “My understanding is that they’re going to be allowed to play and I’m not going to be going nuts if that’s the case.
“But if Wimbledon went down another route, I would be understanding of that.”
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr, the UK’s governing Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) got here underneath strain from the British authorities to impose a ban.
Russian and Belarusian gamers have been finally barred from all 5 ATP tournaments staged by the LTA, together with the longstanding Queen’s Club occasion in London.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which runs Wimbledon, imposed the same suspension.
The ATP, which runs the boys’s skilled tour, responded to final yr’s ban by hitting British tennis with a $1 million advantageous, break up between a $750,000 punishment for the LTA and a $250,000 penalty for the AELTC.
Both the ATP and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) additionally stripped Wimbledon of its rating factors.
Ironically, the ladies’s singles title was gained by Russian-born Elena Rybakina representing Kazakhstan.
There are actually fears that if the ban stays in place, main occasions similar to Queen’s and Eastbourne could possibly be faraway from Britain, with but extra large fines to observe.
None of the game’s three different Grand Slams in Australia, France and the United States have imposed comparable bans.
Players from Russia and Belarus additionally proceed to characteristic at tour occasions though they’re prevented from competing underneath the title or flag of their nations.
This yr’s Wimbledon runs from July 3-16.
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