Estonia Bans Russian, Belarussian Tennis Players From Tour Events - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

Latest news

Estonia Bans Russian, Belarussian Tennis Players From Tour Events

The move comes less than two months before the country is set to host a WTA 250 tournament.

Published

on

The International Tennis Federation has informed some players that they will not be allowed to play tournaments in Estonia following a decision by the country’s authorities.

 

Estonia will host two ITF events during the first half of August in the city of Parnu. During the first week of that month, a men’s Futures tournament will take place followed by a women’s W25 the week after. However, Russian and Belarussian players are banned from competing as a result of the Ukraine war. Russia launched a military assault against Ukraine on February 24th and Belarus is suspected of supporting them.

International sports are now in no way separated from politics, Russia and Belarus use sports to achieve their strategic goals. With this decision, we are sending a clear message,” Liina Kersna, the Estonian Acting Minister of Culture, said in a statement published by championat.ru.

It is not the first time players have been banned from tournaments. The British LTA and Wimbledon also implemented a ban based on advice issued to them by their government. That move prompted anger from the ATP and WTA Tour who removed the awarding of points from Wimbledon in protest.

“Well, what’s new here? Banned and banned. It’s not from a great mind,” Russian Tennis president Shamil Tarpischev told RIA Novosti Sport when asked about Estonia’s ban.

Allar Hint is the general secretary of the Estonian Tennis Federation. During an interview with Delfi.ee, he said that points will be allowed at the ITF events because they are taking place under different circumstances.

“In the case of Pärnu and other smaller tournaments, athletes have an alternative to play elsewhere. That’s one reason why the points remained,” he explained.

Estonia has been a vocal critic of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. The country has previously slapped entry bans on some Russian artists which triggered an angry response. An official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the country a ‘dictatorship.’

It remains to be seen how this ruling placed on players will affect the upcoming Tallinn Open, which is a WTA 250 event. The WTA is a separate governing body to that of the ITF and therefore could potentially implement a penalty. In their statement regarding the Wimbledon ban, the WTA said they will not abandon their ‘fundamental principle’ of protecting players from being discriminated against due to their nationality.

“The stance we are taking is about protecting the equal opportunities that WTA players should have to compete as individuals,” the statement reads.
“If we do not take this stance, then we abandon our fundamental principle and allow the WTA to become an example to support discrimination based on nationality at other events and in other regions around the world. The WTA will continue to apply its rules to reject such discrimination.”

Tennis chief Hint says there is ongoing work to find a ‘solution’ for the event without elaborating further.

The Tallinn Open will begin on September 26th.

Latest news

Dusan Lajovic upsets Andy Murray to reach the second round at the Miami Open

Published

on

Dusan Lajovic upset two-time champion Andy Murray 6-4 7-5 in their first head-to-head match on the first day of the Miami Open to reach the second round at the Hard Rock Stadium. 

 

Lajovic won 72% of his second serve points and saved two of the three break points he faced. The Serbian player converted all three break points. 

Lajovic saved two break points in the fourth and sixth game before earning the first break of the match to love in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Lajovic held on his final two service games to win the first set 6-4. 

Lajovic earned his first break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead, when Murray hit his forehand long. Lajovic was not able to serve out the match at 5-4, as Murray broke back to draw level to 5-5. After missing two match points from 40-0, Lajovic closed out the match, when Murray his his forehand into the net after a long rally in the 12th game. Lajovic has now a 8-5 record this season. 

Lajovic had won just four of 16 hard court since the start of 2022. 

“When I did not close it out, I thought it’s happening again. Honestly that last game I was super right at 40-0 and he was able to put pressure on me. Luckily he shanked the last forehand, which he normally doesn’t do”, said Lajovic. 

Lajovic ended his Sunshine Double campaign with a 2-2 record in Indian Wells and Miami. 

Lajovic set up a second round match against Maxime Cressy. 

“I don’t like playing against guys like him. They try to provoke you and put you under pressure on your service games. I will try to stay mentally stable”, said Lajovic. 

Last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima edged past Oscar Otte 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in 88 minutes. 

Nakashima hit a series of winners to win the tie-break 7-3 with two mini-breaks before earning the only break of serve in the sixth game of the second set. The US player did not face a break point en route to taking the win in his first head-to-head match against Otte. 

Nakashima set up a second round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who won their only previous head-to-head match in straight-set at the Adelaide International 2. 

Japan’s Taro Daniel reached the second round after his French opponent Arthur Rinderknech retired when he went down 1-4 in the first set. Daniel beat Matteo Berrettini en route to the third round at Indian Wells last week. JJ Wolf beat Alexander Bublik 7-5 6-3.

The first set started with a trade of breaks. Bublik earned his second break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Wolf broke straight back to draw level to 5-5, as Bublik was serving for the set. Wolf earned his third break in the 12th game to win the first set 7-5. Wolf won the second set 6-3 with his only break in the fourth game. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Bianca Andreescu battles past Emma Raducanu in Miami

The Canadian won her first-round match against a tough British opponent.

Published

on

BIANCA ANDREESCU OF CANADA - PHOTO: ALBERTO NEVADO / MMO

Bianca Andreescu is into the second round of the Miami Open after beating Emma Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 33 minutes on Stadium Court.

 

The Toronto native hit 33 winners and served seven aces in a match that went the distance. Andreescu saved 11 out of the 12 break points she faced and broke her rival three times en route to victory.

“You never know what you are going to expect and I wanted to come in today playing my best,” the former US Open champion said afterwards. ” With what I had I think I did that and Emma played amazing. She is an incredible player”.

Andreescu opened the match by breaking the London native in the first game and that break of serve was enough for her to serve out the first set quite comfortably.

The second set stayed on serve until 4-3 when Raducanu had multiple breakpoints and managed to break the Canadian on her seventh opportunity. She then served out the set to send the match into a deciding third set where the Toronto native bounced back and at 3-2 broke Raducanu once again to take the lead.

Andreescu broke serve once again while the Brit was serving to stay in the match to secure the win. After the match in her post-match on-court interview, she was asked what made her so dangerous today.

“I didn’t let my negative emotions get the best of me and I stayed positive,” she replied. “I was very energetic and I never gave up and that really key for me today”.

The Canadian will next face the number seven seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.

Continue Reading

Latest news

Iga Swiatek pulls out of the Miami Open due to a rib injury

Published

on

Defending champion Iga Swiatek was forced to withdraw from the Miami Open ahead of the second round match due to a rib injury. 

 

Swiatek was expected to play against US player Claire Liu on Thursday after receiving a first-round bye. 

“You know that in and after Doha I was struggling with a strong infection. I was allowed to play, but a strong episode of tough cough led to a rib injury. We were trying to handle it and continue to play as long as it was safe for me. We were analyzing the data in the last days and my doctor prepared my diagnosis. Unfortunately, I am still feeling a lot of discomfort and pain and I can’t compete. It’s a truly call to not play in Miami, but health is the most important thing. I am grateful this is the first health issue in a long time and I was able in perfect shape for so long, but that’s sport. It happens sometimes, without our control. It’s time to accept it and get well as well as possible ”, said Swiatek. 

The injury bothered Swiatek during her semifinal match against eventual champion Elena Rybakina in Indian Wells. She revelead after her match against Rybakina that she had been struggling with a rib complaint following an infection. 

“I gave it all but Elena was a better player today. I am feeling discomfort and pain in my ribs and it was challenging for me to compete at my highest level. Now I just need to consult with my medical team and I will definitely use these next days to recover”, said Swiatek. 

She will also miss the Bille Jean King Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan from 14-15 April in Astana. 

Last year Swiatek did not drop a set en route to winning the Miami Open. The Polish player became the fifth woman to complete the Sunshine Double of winning back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Swiatek will be replaced by Austrian lucky loser Julia Grabher. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending