While sports including football and rugby initially imposed bans on Russian and Belarusian teams participating in competitions following the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, tennis players from the two countries were not barred from competing by their governing bodies.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) suspended the Russian Tennis Federation and Belarus Tennis Federation from international team competition but allowed players to continue as individuals.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and men’s association (ATP) joined the ITF in suspending events due to be held in Russia and told players from the nations that they could not appear under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus.
That has seen the likes of Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka play at grand slams as neutrals since 2022.
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Are Russians and Belarusians allowed to play at the Australian Open in 2025?
There will be no restrictions on Russians and Belarusians playing at the Australian Open in 2025.
However, they still aren’t allowed to compete under their country’s flag or name.
This includes their clothing and also on the TV broadcast.
These players include top 20 men’s players Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov, as well as top 20 women’s players Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina, Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Mirra Andreeva.
What was the reaction to Wimbledon’s ban?
Russian and Belarusian players were allowed to play at all grand slams except Wimbledon in 2022.
The All England Club announced that entries from the two countries would be declined “with deep regret”.
The move proved predictably controversial, earning support and criticism as part of a mixed reaction after the French Open, held in May and June, had decided not to bar players from the countries in 2022.
The WTA strongly condemned the war but disagreed with the decision to ban the players. “A fundamental principle of the WTA is that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination,” it said.
“As the WTA has consistently stated, individual athletes should not be penalised or prevented from competing due to where they are from, or the decisions made by the governments of their countries.”
Medvedev called for peace and reacted pragmatically to the announcement.
“On the one hand, I can understand and, on the other, I find it unfair,” he said, pointing out that self-employed people from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to carry on working in the UK.
“This is a delicate situation because it sets a precedent and puts other sports competitions in an uncomfortable position. Where is the line? What are the rules that should lead to a possible exclusion?”
Medvedev left the door open for a late change of heart from organisers. “If I have the opportunity to play at Wimbledon, I would be delighted,” he said. “If not, I would accept it.”
Reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic also condemned the war but labelled Wimbledon’s decision “crazy”. “When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good,” he added.
Retired British tennis great and three-time major winner Andy Murray called the guidance from the UK government “not helpful”.
“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,” he said.
“I’m not sure how comfortable I would feel if something happened to one of the players or their families [as a result]. I don’t think there’s a right answer.
“I have spoken to some of the Russian players. I’ve spoken to some of the Ukrainian players. I feel really bad for the players who aren’t allowed to play and I get that it will seem unfair to them.
“But I also know some of the people who work at Wimbledon, and I know how difficult a position they were in. I feel for everyone, feel for the players that can’t play, and I don’t support one side or the other.”
On 31 March 2023, the Wimbledon ban was rescinded.
