“Don’t slam Wimbledon, slam Russia,” Jose Andres criticizes Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray for their remarks
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Rafael Nadal, Jose Andres and Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray are being criticized for opposing Wimbledon’s decision to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from participating in this year’s tournament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “I think it’s very unfair to my Russian tennis teammates, my colleagues… it’s not their fault what’s happening right now with the war,” said Nadal during Mutua Madrid Open press conference.
“I’m sorry for them,” Nadal said. “Wimbledon just made their decision, the government didn’t force them to do it. We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks if the players will make any kind of decision about it.” Also, the ATP and the WTA have publicly criticized the decision of the All England Club, announced on April 20. Among the prominent players affected by the ban are reigning U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, all of whom are Russians.
Novak Djokovic compared the situation of the excluded players to the one he experienced in January when he could not play in the Australian Open. He was expelled from Australia for not being vaccinated against COVID-19. “It’s not the same, but going through something similar earlier this year for me, it’s frustrating to know you can’t play,” Djokovic said. “I still hold my position that I don’t support the (Wimbledon) decision. I think it’s not fair, it’s not right, but it’s what it is.”
Meanwhile, Andy Murray has pointed out that speaking out against Putin or Lukashenko might put Russian and Belarusian players’ families and friends in danger at home. “My understanding of the guidance was that Russians and Belarusians can play if they sign a declaration that they’re against the war and against the Russian regime,” Murray said to journalists at the Madrid Open. “I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel if something happened to one of the players or their families (as a result).”
Renowned chef Jose Andres slams the veteran players
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray have been chastised by renowned Spanish-American chef Jose Andres for criticizing Wimbledon’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian tennis players from the tournament. Andres, a two-time Michelin Star winner, believes that Russia bears sole responsibility for the horrors committed during the continuing invasion of Ukraine.
Andrés has over a million Twitter followers, and he has expressed his displeasure with Russia’s atrocities against Ukrainians. Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray, according to the chef, made a bad decision by blaming Wimbledon and not Russia. “@RafaelNadal, @DjokerNole, @andy_murray when you know that children+women+elderly they’ve been shot in the head for going out for bread to eat. Girls raped. Millions of Ukrainians displaced! don’t slam @Wimbledon slam Russia,” wrote the chef.
Also Read: Former Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson announces unfortunate news ahead of French Open 2022
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)