ATP still considering sanction against Wimbledon over Russia ban

The ATP events at Queen’s and Eastbourne will still offer their usual level of ranking points, though.

General view over the outside courts at Wimbledon Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

May 17, 2022

The ATP is still considering action against Wimbledon over its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Championships because of the invasion of Ukraine.

Rumours had suggested that the men’s Tour could remove ranking points from this year’s event, as well as all the grass-court events in Britain which have followed Wimbledon’s lead in banning Russian and Belarussian players.

On Monday, the ATP released a statement in which it said the UK grass-court events – Queen’s and Eastbourne – would carry the respective normal ranking points.

No points removed from LTA events. Highly unlikely there will be any removed from Wimbledon now. Could be some player discontent as a result pic.twitter.com/rpW7SvMyhG
— Simon Briggs (@simonrbriggs) May 16, 2022

According to reports, the ATP Player Council had wanted to remove or reduce the number of ranking points on offer because it felt that penalising individual players over Russia’s ban was unfair.

But the ATP Board decided not to act, although it said a decision about Wimbledon was “under review”.

The LTA could yet be sanctioned in other ways, the ATP said, with fines the most likely punishment.

Wimbledon said it had made the “difficult” decision to ban Russian and Belarussian players having taken guidance from the British government.

Wimbledon decision “based on government guidance”

Offering Russians and Belarussians the chance to play, if they signed something saying they were opposed to the war, could leave players’ families vulnerable to Russian government action, it said.

Any decision to reduce or restrict ranking points at Wimbledon would be hugely controversial.

Some players have openly expressed their disappointment at Wimbledon’s decision, saying it is discriminatory but present and former Ukrainian players have praised the move.

The WTA issued a statement of its own after Wimbledon’s initial decision but has yet to reveal any action against the LTA or the UK’s grass-court events.