US Open to not follow Wimbledon’s footsteps, allows Russian and Belarusian players to complete

US Open to not follow Wimbledon’s footsteps, allows Russian and Belarusian players to complete

Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka and Andrey Rublev

The USTA will permit Russian and Belarusian players to compete in the 2022 US Open under a neutral flag. The announcement comes after the Grand Slams, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and WTA Tours, and the International Tennis Federation unanimously criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was backed by Belarus.

The USTA backed the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from international team tournaments, as well as the directive that players from those countries compete in other competitions under a neutral flag. Players from Russia and Belarus will not be able to compete at Wimbledon later this month, prompting the men’s ATP and women’s WTA Tours to deduct ranking points from the grasscourt Grand Slam. Nonetheless, in their recent declaration, the USTA has confirmed that they would not be following in Wimbledon’s footsteps, according to reports.

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Daniil Medvedev | US Open
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“Alongside the other Grand Slams, the ITF, the ATP and the WTA, the USTA, which owns and operates the U.S. Open, has previously condemned, and continues to condemn, the unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” the USTA said. “The USTA, standing with these other tennis entities, supported the banning of the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations from the ITF, and therefore all international team competitions, and the directive for players from those countries to play under a neutral flag when competing outside of international team competitions. We recognize that each organization has had to deal with unique circumstances that affect their decisions. Based on our own circumstances, the USTA will allow all eligible players, regardless of nationality, to compete at the 2022 US Open.”

Mike McNulty, USTA Chairman of the Board and President, stated, “Tennis has done much through Tennis Plays for Peace for humanitarian support of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the need for help only continues to grow. The USTA will be responding very soon with a broad set of initiatives that will include significant financial assistance and other programs to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine.”

Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 1 from Russia, will be permitted to defend his championship at the flushing Meadows as a result of the decision. With a straight-set sweep in last year’s final, Medvedev derailed Novak Djokovic’s pursuit for the first calendar-year Grand Slam.

Medvedev, who reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking on Monday, and fellow Russians Andrey Rublev (No. 8) and Karen Khachanov (No. 23), as well as world No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 19 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, will not be permitted to compete in Wimbledon. As a result, the 26-year-old will be looking forward to adding another Grand Slam to his tally at the US Open.

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