Wimbledon 2023 lifts ban on Russian & Belarusian players
Russian and Belarusian tennis players will be able to compete at Wimbledon this summer, after the All England Club lifted the ban it imposed last year.
The players will be able to feature this year “subject to competing as neutral athletes” and complying with certain conditions.
The decision also covers other British events held in the run up to Wimbledon, most notably the tournaments at Queen’s and Eastbourne.
However, players must agree not to support the Russian and/or Belarusian states or their regimes and leaders and not receive funding from Russian and/or Belarusian states.
Punishments for breaking these rules will range from fines to expulsion from the tournament.
The decision was made after discussions with the UK government, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and international stakeholders.
The AELTC and LTA said they stand by last year’s position but without changing their stance this year, the tennis’ two main professional tours, the men’s ATP and women’s WTA would have cancelled the LTA’s membership. As a result, Queen’s, Eastbourne and other British grass-court events would not have been staged, damaging British tennis organisations financially.
