Murray expects Wimbledon to re-admit Russian and Belarusian players

Andy Murray expects Wimbledon to re-admit Russian and Belarusian players after they were banned last year in wake of Ukraine invasion… with British star saying he ‘won’t be going nuts’ if they do return

  • Wimbledon banned players from Russia and Belarus from last year’s Slam
  • It led to the event being stripped of ranking points and fines for the organisers
  • The LTA is expected to make a decision on this year’s event in coming months 

Andy Murray expects Russian and Belarusian players to compete at Wimbledon this summer despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club [AELTC] barred competitors from the two countries from all grass-court events in the United Kingdom last year.

It led to Wimbledon being stripped of ranking points and an £827,000 fine for the AELTC and the Lawn Tennis Association [LTA].

The British former world No 1 Murray said he understands they will be allowed to play at SW19 this year, adding he won’t ‘be going nuts if that is the case.’

Murray told BBC Sport: ‘It’s a really difficult one and I do feel for the players who weren’t able to play last year – but I also understand the situation and why it’s really hard for Wimbledon to make a call on it as well.

‘My understanding is that they are going to be allowed to play and I’m not going to be going nuts if that is the case.

Andy Murray expects Russian and Belarusian players to return to Wimbledon this summer

The All England Club imposed the ban last year in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev is among those who would be allowed to compete if the ban lifted 

‘But if Wimbledon went down another route I would be understanding of that.’

Two-time Wimbledon singles champion Murray, 35, said in May last year he ‘wasn’t supportive of players getting banned’ from tournaments.

He donated more than £500,000 of his 2022 prize money to help Ukrainian children affected by the Russian invasion.

The LTA is expected to make a decision on whether to re-admit players from Russia and Belarus, such as Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka, in the coming months.

Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has been a key ally of Vladimir Putin in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last year’s Wimbledon women’s singles winner was Moscow-born Elena Rybakina, who switched allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2018.

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