[Aileen]

What really bugs me about the government's attitude is that the UK never illegally invaded another country, did it!

[waverlybear]

Thanks Aileen.  And so it continues.

[Aileen]

"Wimbledon: ATP & WTA strip ranking points from Grand Slam over ban for Russians and Belarusians"

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will also not grant ranking points in the junior and wheelchair events at Wimbledon, which starts on 27 June.

In a statement, the All England Lawn Tennis Club expressed its "deep disappointment" and said it was considering its options. It added: "We believe these decisions to be disproportionate in the context of the exceptional and extreme circumstances of this situation and the position we found ourselves in.  We remain unwilling to accept success or participation at Wimbledon being used to benefit the propaganda machine of the Russian regime, which, through its closely controlled state media, has an acknowledged history of using sporting success to support a triumphant narrative to the Russian people."

Meantime the ATP remains "hopeful of further discussions with Wimbledon leading to an acceptable outcome for all concerned."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/61401519

[moonglow]

But Djokovic won't be allowed to play at the US Open because he still isn't vaccinated for Covid19.

[marathonarthur]

Another thought for you all.

If Wimbledon has no points this year and effectively is not included in the tournaments where points are allocated then the points obtained last year should , perhaps, not be dropped?  The decision to not awards points this year is too late for players to look at other tournaments at the same time. It is not Wimbledon that is being penalised as it stands but players. Many, below the top twenty have to consider ensuring their points tally to get the next tournament entry confirmed so I am disappointed that they should do something so heavy handed as most of you are too.

On the participation issue I am not sure here again what Wimbledon and the Government think is being achieved. I assume it is a Government direction to do this. As you all say politics should not be in sport but IT IS. There needs to be a way for Russian and Belarussian players to play IF they are not part of the Russian war effort. I doubt if many send their winnings back to those places to support that cause as most now live in the West. Consequently, to me, playing under a neutral flag seems a better option than a ban. I think most in sport would go for this option. Perhaps when voting for our MP's we need to check their attitudes to protecting sport from political strategies?

Perhaps there will be the ATP and another unofficial Ranking List in the future? What an awful prospect. It could end up like boxing.

[Aileen]

"Andrey Rublev reveals Wimbledon frustration as Daria Kasatkina admits Russians could change citizenship"

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/andrey-rublev-reveals-wimbledon-frustration-135800592.html

If the conflict in the Ukraine is still on-going next year the AELTC really will have to rethink it's stance here regardless of what the government's guidelines are particularly as players should not have to change their citizenship in order to compete.  It makes no sense either to withhold ranking points for another year or even longer, should the ATP and WTA decide to go down that road again.