EXCLUSIVE: Queens and Eastbourne under threat

EXCLUSIVE: Queens and Eastbourne under threat if ban on Russian and Belarusian players is carried over into this year with the LTA in danger of a full suspension from hosting events if it is repeated

• Two of the grass season’s most prestigious events are under threat over ban
• Said that if the LTA repeat the ban then they will be in danger of full suspension
• Debbie Jevans to leave the EFL at the end of 2022-23 to take over at Wimbledon 

Those running tennis in the UK fear that prestige tournaments such as those at Queen’s Club and Eastbourne could end up being lost to Britain unless they allow Russians to play on the grass this summer.

That is the sobering reality being looked at as Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association ponder a decision on this vexed issue, ahead of the first anniversary of Ukraine being invaded.

Increasingly it looks like a U-turn on last year’s ban will have to be executed, unless the government intervenes by refusing to issue visas to the leading players from both Russia and its ally, Belarus.

While most focus has, naturally, been on the position of Wimbledon, it has emerged that the biggest specific concern among GB tennis chiefs relates to the fate of events like the Cinch Championships at Queen’s and the popular pre-SW19 event at Eastbourne.

The LTA, which owns these, is currently in danger of full suspension from staging events if the ban is repeated. Now there is the implicit threat that, should the licenses be withdrawn, these will be placed for sale on the open market and bought by overseas federations or investors and played elsewhere.

Fears have been raised that the Queens and Eastbourne tournaments could be under threat if ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes carries over to this season

Daniil Medvedev is one of the most high-profile players to have suffered as a result of last year’s ban

It would devastate the pre-Wimbledon domestic programme, and dramatically cut the sport’s visibility to domestic audiences wanting to see the likes of Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu. It also affects annual tournaments staged at the likes of Nottingham, Surbiton and Ilkley.

There could, additionally, be further seven-figure fines in addition to those that have already been levied, as the men’s and women’s tours stick to the principle that their members should not be punished for the sins of governments.

‘The situation is extremely serious and one that I don’t think a lot of people have appreciated the full impact of,’ said one highly-placed source.

Global tennis has controversially stayed solid in offering a high-profile weekly platform to players from Russia and Belarus, with Britain being the exception, plus a few smaller Baltic states.

Last year Wimbledon and the LTA barred those from the aggressor nations from playing in UK grass events, which led to The Championships being stripped of ranking points.

With there being no end in sight to the appalling suffering in Ukraine, the British game is faced with only least-worst scenarios, barring some miraculous outbreak of peace. Discussions are ongoing about the unpalatable choices on offer, and Sportsmail understands that there is one option gaining particular support.

That is presenting the government with the concept that, if they feel so strongly about the issue, then the onus should be on them to refuse visas to enter the UK.

This would effectively take the matter out of the hands of the tennis authorities, and should save them from further punishment at the hands of the international tours. The ATP has already halved the LTA’s voting rights on wider tour issues.

Yet the government is said to be reluctant to deny visas, thereby setting a precedent.

If that is the case and the ban is simply rescinded there will be a price to play in terms of public opinion, given the iconic status of Wimbledon. MPs will voice their condemnation, and relations with Whitehall and even the Royals – upon which SW19 places a very high value – could be damaged.

The alternative is seen to be worse, although in terms of player participation Wimbledon itself is largely insulated. The £40 million-plus prize money and its sheer cachet will always ensure a strong international field, regardless of ranking points being at stake. It is the more regular events which are threatened.

Matteo Berrettini celebrates with the trophy after his triumph at Queens last season

The dilemma also comes at a time when the ATP is minded to create a major new Masters 1000 event on grass. At least two British consortiums are interested in buying the rights, with the potential of a new venue south of London being built.

A spokesperson for the LTA was guarded around the wider issue of player bans, saying: ‘We remain in discussions with the AELTC, UK Government, and tours on this issue, and hope to be able to announce an outcome as soon as possible.’ Wimbledon declined to comment.

If the only option is a simple reversal of policy on the Russians and Belarussians then it will still leave awkward questions to be answered.

Foremost of these is what exactly has changed since the principled stance was taken last year, apart from the massive scale of devastation and death wrought by Putin’s aggression.

When the decision was announced in April, All England Chairman Ian Hewitt said: ‘We believe this is an extreme and exceptional situation that takes us far beyond the interests of tennis alone. Government, industry, sport and creative institutions are all playing their part in efforts to limit Russia’s global influence.’

Both he and Chief Executive Sally Bolton repeatedly quoted ‘directive guidance’ that had come from the government. It is a somewhat woolly and contradictory phrase, which sounded suspiciously like it had been dreamt up by spin doctors.

One initial anxiety that will have been assuaged in the intervening time is that leading players from the two aggressor nations have been extremely careful not to endorse or the war.

They have been disciplined about dead-batting questions around the subject, and – fearful of the consequences – have fallen back on platitudes about being against all violence and war.

World men’s number five Andrey Rublev and women’s number nine Daria Kasatkina have come the closest to intimating any revulsion at their government’s policies.

The stance banning is Russian and Belarusian players from last year’s tournament will seemingly have to be u-turned upon 

Neither are likely to win on the grass if allowed to enter, but the reality for Wimbledon is that Aryna Sabalenka, the new Australian Open champion from Belarus, most definitely could.

One thing for certain is that it has not been a bad twelve months for this group, as shown by the world rankings. A year ago there were three players from those nations in the WTA top 20, and two occupying that bracket in the men’s game.

There are now six in the women’s top twenty from the aggressor countries, and three in the highest 20 on the male side. Twelve women’s players from Russia and Belarus reside in the top 100, and six are up there in the ATP listings.

Five Ukrainian women are also in the top 100, which does not include their highest profile player Elina Svitolina, who has been absent giving birth to her first child. Distressed at still having to compete against players from nations destroying their country, most have already spoken out against the idea of Russian athletes competing at Wimbledon, or being allowed back by the International Olympic Committee.

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