British tennis chiefs risk the prospect of losing some of their most prestigious events if they are unable to reverse their ban on Russian and Belarusian players, according to a report.
The Daily Mail has claimed that The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) are in danger of losing its licence to stage WTA and ATP events this year. Last year the governing body implemented a ban on Russian and Belarusian players participating in their events in response to the war in Ukraine. The action was taken following advice from the British government who was concerned that Russia could use Wimbledon as propaganda.
However, the controversial decision prompted swift condemnation from both the men’s and women’s Tours who have since issued the LTA with fines. Something the government body had appealed against on the basis they were following a recommendation from their government. Is it this political stance that is troublesome for tennis chiefs.
It is expected that there will be a u-turn on the ban but the government could decide to refuse visas to players from those countries. Should this situation occur, the Mail reports that the LTA faces the prospect of being suspended and having their rights to stage tournaments removed. Putting events such as Queen’s and Eastbourne, which has been a regular fixture on the tennis calendar for years, in danger.
Then there is also a possible threat of these rights being removed and sold to others which would be a massive blow for British tennis. Wimbledon will not be affected as the ATP and WTA have no jurisdiction over it.
“The situation is extremely serious and one that I don’t think a lot of people have appreciated the full impact of,’ the Mail quotes a ‘highly-placed source’ as saying.
Currently, Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to participate on the Tour but only under a neutral status as a result of the war. The two countries are currently suspended from team events such as the Davis Cup.
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina argues that the Wimbledon ban should remain in place as long as “innocent Ukrainians are still being killed.” The former world No.3 recently returned to her country for the first time since the war broke out and is a member of United 24. A foundation founded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which collects financial donations for Ukraine in the wake of the invasion.
“I hope they will do the same thing and keep the ban in place. I don’t think it should change,” Svitolina told BBC Sport earlier this month.
“There are still people suffering and still Russian soldiers killing innocent Ukrainians.”
The AELTC and LTA are yet to publically comment on The Mail’s report.