Mats Wilander exclusively: Russian tennis professionals criticize the war in Ukraine “very sensitive”

“The situation is very delicate,” says Mats Wilander. For Russian athletes like Andrey Rublev, criticism of the war and the actions of the government in Moscow “is not as easy to express publicly as it is for other people or in other countries.”

So far, Russian professionals have not made any negative comments about Vladimir Putin or “dissociated themselves from their country,” Wilander told Eurosport.

But this is understandable. “I applaud their efforts to make their voices heard in a certain way. By calling for peace and not war and then stopping right there because of course we don’t want their personal safety to be jeopardized if they go too far and too very much become a politician,” said the Swede.

What measures are ATP and WTA taking?

Meanwhile, the world association ITF, ATP and WTA have to think about how to deal with Russian tennis professionals. A complete exclusion such as in football is not in sight. On the other hand, the option of only allowing players from Russia to compete under a neutral flag is being discussed.

An idea that Wilander considers a viable option. “That’s a fair suggestion. I don’t think you can blame the Russian pros themselves. In my opinion, in tennis you don’t really represent your country, you just represent yourself. It’s not about the Olympics, it’s not about the Davis Cup , not for the Billie Jean King Cup,” explains the seven-time Grand Slam tournament winner.

ATP and WTA could therefore “take the position and say that Russians are allowed to participate in the tournaments – just without any connection to the country. There will be no flag next to the names and it would be the decision that the Russian professionals have to score themselves. Is it okay for them to play under the circumstances? At least I think it would be fair to do it,” emphasizes Wilander.