“The LTA also recognises that individual Russian and Belarusian players may not agree with the actions of their governments and this is a situation beyond their control,” the LTA said.
“Nevertheless the national governing body believes that it is important to do all it can to support Ukraine at this time,and that this move has the support of the British public.”
But the ATP condemned the ban and flagged possible action in response.
“We believe that today’s unilateral decision by Wimbledon and the LTA to exclude players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s British grasscourt swing is unfair and has the potential to set a damaging precedent for the game,” it said in a statement.
“Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement withWimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings.
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“Any course of action in response to this decision will now be assessed in consultation with our Board and Member councils,” the statement said.
Medvedev’s management was contacted for comment. The world No.2 briefly held the top position earlier in the year and has not outright condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He has said that he “stands for peace”.
He had previously conceded that he might not be able to play in England this year following comments made by the British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston who said that Medvedev might have to denounce Putin in order to play.
Wimbledon’s unilateral decision is not expected to be matched by other grand slam events.
The first slam since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is Roland Garros in Paris,starting on May 28,with the second round of the French presidential elections on this weekend.
ESPN reported that the United States Tennis Association,which runs New York’s US Open starting in late August,had not made a final decision about Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Tennis Australia,which runs the fourth major,January’s Australian Open,declined to comment.
The British government told sports organisers that in order for Russian athletes to compete they would need to fly a neutral flag,not receive any funding aligned to Russia either directly or via sponsorships from companies operated by Putin supporters.
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Athletes would also not be allowed to have expressed or intend to express any support for the invasion,Putin’s regime or Putin himself.
Huddleston welcomed Wimbledon’s move.
“The UK has taken a leading role internationally to make clear that President Putin must not be able to use sport to legitimise Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
“Whilst the withdrawal of individual athletes is a complex issue that will divide opinion,there is a bigger cause at stake.”