French Open allows Russian and Belarusian players to participate, does not follow Wimbledon’s footsteps
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Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev
Following Wimbledon’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian players, the question regarding Roland Garros emerged (22 May-6 June). According to RMC Sport, the management of the French Open has retained its status to date.
Russians and Belarusians will be permitted to compete in the French Open in accordance with principles of strict neutrality, as stated in a joint declaration by the sports ministers of 36 nations on March 9 with respect to international sports organisations. These players will be eligible to compete under the banner of a neutral team. However, their national anthem will not be performed if they win in the end.
As a reminder, as part of this agreement following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, only Russian and Belarusian teams are banned from competitions (as is the case in Davis cup and Billie Jean King Cup).
Wimbledon bans Russian and Belarusian players
Wimbledon (27 June-10 July) justified its choice with a new England regulation regulating Russian and Belarusian competitors at the end of April. The organisers said that the people concerned would have had to fill out a “written declaration” opposing the military incursion in Ukraine in order to participate in the competition, saying they had “no other option.” This government-imposed attitude, according to the president of the All England Club, where the London Grand Slam is held, would have put the players and their families in jeopardy.
This Wimbledon decision affects world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, who reached the final of the most recent Grand Slam tournament in January in Australia, Andrey Rublev (8th), Aryna Sabalenka (4th and semi-finalist last year), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15th), and Victoria Azarenka (former No. 1, now 18th).
Earlier French Open authorities decided not to ban Russian and Belarusian players
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) affirmed that the French Open had no plans to bar Russians and Belarusians from competing in the Grand Slam event. The tournament said it would allow individual competitors to play in Paris. “We will impose strict neutrality on Russian and Belarusian players,” said the FFT’s director-general Amelie Oudéa-Castera, but added, “We adhere to the EU sports ministries and the countries around us… individual athletes are only banned if they are selected by their countries.”
The FFT confirmed, in addition, that Novak Djokovic and other players who are not vaccinated against coronavirus are also allowed to compete—though any change in government requirements could apply to the event. “As things are, nothing stands in the way of Djokovic’s participation,” said Amelie Mauresmo, the tournament director of the French Open.
Also Read: “We will continue” Wimbledon defends its decision in response to Novak Djokovic’s criticism
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)