Australian Open champion Rafa Nadal has labelled this year's Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players as unfair, saying they are not responsible for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has barred players from the two countries from competing at this year's grasscourt Grand Slam over what Russia calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine. Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.
"I think it's very unfair to my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues," 21-time Grand Slam winner Nadal said at the Madrid Open. "In that sense, it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war.
"Let's see what happens in the next weeks, if the players will take some kind of decision... well, there is one thing that's negative, there are things that are clear. When the Government imposes some restrictions, you just have to follow them."
AELTC's decision has been condemned by both the men's and women's tours, as well as several other players.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who has also criticised the ban, says he spoke to Russian players during last week's Serbia Open and it was tough for them to be excluded from the biggest tournament in the world.
"It's hard," said the Serbian. "I understand that there is frustration.
"ATP is going to, I guess, analyse the whole situation and understand what can be done. I still stand by my position that I don't support the decision.
"I think it's just not fair, it's not right... now I guess it's on player council, the tour management, to really decide along with the players what is the best solution in this situation."
Reuters
