Russians and Belarusians will be able to continue to take part in tournaments on the circuit, including those of the Grand Slam, but are excluded from the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, world tennis authorities announced on Tuesday.
Daniil Medvedev, brand new world N.1, Andrey Rublev (N.6), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (N.14) or Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (N.3), will therefore be able to continue to line up in tournaments, starting by that of Indian Wells in California, which begins on March 10, then in those of the Grand Slam, at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.
Russia won’t be able to defend their Billie Jean Cup title
“However, until further notice, they will not participate (in these competitions) under the flag of Russia and Belarus,” the organizations’ joint statement continued. On the other hand, Russia will not be able to defend its title in the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, these selection competitions which it won in 2021.
Among these athletes, Rublev and Pavlyuchenkova expressed their rejection of the war triggered by the invasion of Ukraine by the army of their country. The ATP and WTA have also announced the cancellation of the Moscow tournament, scheduled for October. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday recommended banning Russians from sports competitions or, at the very least, preventing them from participating under their country’s banner.
Committed to the Monterrey tournament in Mexico, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina refused to face the Russian Anastasia Potapova in the first round on Monday.
She had warned that she would maintain this position as long as the tennis authorities did not decide to accept “Russian or Belarusian nationals only as neutral athletes”.
