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Controversy over the decision of Wimbledon to ban Russian and Belarusian players from next month's Grass Court Grand Salem has cast a shadow over the French Open. AFP Sports has analyzed the key points of the crisis that has erupted due to the snatching of Wimbledon ranking points in the ATP and WTA and that could force some players to leave the event.
What's the Wimbledon controversy?
Wimbledon, which began on June 27, has banned players from Russia and Belarus in response to the attack on Ukraine, though they are allowed to play in other tournaments, including the ongoing French Open.
The All England Club said that in the face of such unwarranted and unusual military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian government to take advantage of the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players.
The ATP and WTA, which hold professional competitions, responded by separating the event's ranking points. Wimbledon said the approval was "disproportionate".
This is not the first time the tournament has been banned: players from Germany and Japan were banned from competing immediately after World War II.
Former world number one and four-time winner Naomi Osaka said she was considering not playing Wimbledon if she had no ranking points. "Given the current situation, I'm more inclined not to play. I'm the type of player who gets excited when she sees her ranking go up.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic "intends to participate", although on Monday he insisted the decision to ban the players was a "mistake" when other options were available. He says that the impasse is a "losing situation". Djokovic will try to win his seventh Wimbledon title.
Ironically, Daniil Medvedev, one of the Russians facing sanctions, could achieve a higher ranking. John Isner, who won the longest match in tennis history at Wimbledon in 2010, at 11 hours and five minutes, said it was unclear.
"Right now, really, I'm not that worried about Wimbledon. I'll probably come on Saturday and maybe play Monday and see what happens."
For many players, ranking points are a great currency, they open the doors to big tournaments, and through expansion, big paychecks can be found.
What do Ukrainian players think?
Former top 25 player Lesia Tsurenko has criticized her fellow WTA professionals for being "irrational" and claimed that in the three months since the war began, only "four or five" have asked her about the war. ۔
Tsurenko, now out of the top 100, has not been able to return to her hometown of Kyiv, instead, she had to stay at an Italian academy with her teammate and compatriot Marta Kostyuk. (Wimbledon controversy)
Former Ukrainian player Sergei Stakhovsky, who defeated Roger Federer on Wimbledon Center Court in 2013, called the ATP's decision to split the points a "shameful day for tennis". Stakhovsky, who joined the Ukrainian army to fight Russia, tweeted: "To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. No one would ever be expected to side with the attackers and killers."
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