Wimbledon’s ban on Russians is a mistake, says Djokovic

Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the current year’s tournament following the invasion of Ukraine was off-base and needed regard, world number one Novak Djokovic said on Monday.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) took the choice following Russia’s attack in February, which Moscow calls a ‘special military operation’. Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.

Thus, Wimbledon was deprived of its positioning focuses by the ATP and WTA Tours over its choice to bar players from the two nations.

Rankings decide a player’s capacity to enter tennis occasions and get seedings.

“On a personal level of course, without getting a chance to play and defend my 4,000 points from Australia and Wimbledon, I will drop them this year,” said Djokovic.

“On a personal, individual level I am very negatively affected by that,” said the Serb.

Djokovic, who missed the current year’s Australian Open because of his absence of a COVID-19 vaccination and ensuing removal, said the ATP’s and WTA’s reaction to the Wimbledon decision was a mistake.

“Collectively I am glad that players got together and showed to the Grand Slam that when there is a mistake happening we have to show there will be some consequences,” he said.

“I think it (Wimbledon’s ban) was a wrong decision. I don’t support that at all. But at these times it is a sensitive subject and whatever you decide will create a lot of conflict.”

“There was never unfortunately a strong communication coming from Wimbledon. That’s why I think it’s wrong.”

The Wimbledon move has been censured by the tennis administering bodies as biased.

“It’s a very unique and weird situation but a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam,” Djokovic said, adding he was planning to play at the tournament.

“Wimbledon has always been my dream since I was a kid. I don’t look at it through the lens of points or prize money but there has to be some standards with some mutual respect,” he said.

“This is one of these kinds of decisions where there will always be someone who will suffer more. It is a lose-lose situation.”