Aryna Sabalenka (2nd WTA) started 2023 perfectly. At the beginning of January she triumphed in the WTA Adelaide, and last Saturday she won the Australian Open. Thus, she reached for the first Grand Slam title in her career. She will have another chance to win such a prestigious award at Roland Garros and the US Open. Wimbledon will also take place in July, but it is still unclear if Sabalenka will be able to perform there.
McEnroe opposes the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from Wimbledon. “Players should not be penalized for something over which they have absolutely no control”
After the invasion of Ukraine, many sports organizations excluded Russians and Belarusians from the competition. Tennis is one of the few disciplines where players from the invader country can still compete. The exception was last year’s Wimbledon. The organizers of the London tournament did not allow the Russians and Belarusians to compete.
The armed conflict continues, and Wimbledon has not yet announced a decision on the next edition of the tournament. Therefore, there is a risk that Sabalenka will not appear on the courts in London. John McEnroe, however, opposes this possibility.
Sabalenka gained a lot of confidence in Australia, which could help her later in the season. I just hope politics doesn’t get in the way. It is still unknown what decision the organizers of Wimbledon will make. Of course, the situation in Ukraine is dramatic, and people are taking various actions to oppose the invader’s attacks. But I don’t think politics should hit sport,” McEnroe told Eurosport.
– A year ago I was against the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from Wimbledon. If this season London makes the same decision, I will also express my displeasure. I don’t know what Wimbledon is going to do. One thing I’m sure of. Players should not be penalized for something they have absolutely no control over and have little to do with. After all, no one wants war, so I hope something will change. I believe all players will be able to play in London.”
Sabalenka also spoke about the exclusion of players during the tournament in Australia. “I’m just very disappointed that sport is somehow present in politics. We’re just players playing our sport. That’s all. We don’t do politics. (…) If we could all do something [z wojną], we would, but we have zero influence. They banned us from Wimbledon and what changed? Nothing – they [rosyjskie władze] they still do and that’s the sad part of it – .
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We will find out in the coming weeks what final decision the organizers of Wimbledon will make. The tournament will take place from July 3 to July 16, 2023. Roland Garros was planned earlier, from May 28 to June 11. The title on Parisian soil will be defended by Iga ¦wiątek.
Source: Sport.PL
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