Daniil Medvedev would love nothing greater than a return to Wimbledon, however the sixth-ranked Russian isn’t getting caught up in studies that the All England Club might rescind its ban of Russian and Belarusian gamers.
The UK’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) got here below strain from the British authorities to impose the ban final yr after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and an eventual ban prolonged to the grass court docket Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported final week that Wimbledon will possible carry the ban, however Medvedev was not constructing on it when requested on the onerous court docket event in Indian Wells.
“Same like last year, you know, we hear rumors,” he mentioned, including when requested that he’d heard nothing from organizers and wouldn’t count on to.
“I know that I’m not someone who’s going to make this decision for them or even help them make this decision,” Medvedev mentioned. “They have to make it by themselves for their different reasons, like they made it last year.
“I always said that I will respect this decision. I play where I can play. Last year I couldn’t play Wimbledon — I was practicing hard back where I live.
“That’s the only thing I can do. Tennis is my job, so I will be really happy to play Wimbledon. I absolutely love this tournament, but if it’s not meant to be, I’m going to wait for the opportunity to be back there.”
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus mentioned she’s making an attempt to “stay away” from hypothesis after discovering the ban final yr “super painful.”
Now, she mentioned, she’s realized “I cannot control it.
“They will do whatever they want and I really hope that we are going to play there.
“I like the tournament, it’s a beautiful place and I like the crowd … I just really hope that they’re going to let us play. If not, then what can I do? Nothing.”
Sabalenka mentioned she had managed to distance herself emotionally from debate in regards to the battle over the previous yr.
“Before I was really worried about that and I didn’t really know what to do,” she mentioned. “I really thought that the situation is my fault.
“Then I realized that, yes, this is not under my control and I did nothing really bad against Ukrainian people. This is just not my fault (I have) zero control of the situation.”
Last yr 5 tournaments staged by the LTA banned Russian and Belarusian gamers.
Wimbledon was the one Grand Slam occasion with such a ban and the ATP and WTA stripped the event of its world rating factors.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com