There’s one tennis star who is not a fan of Wimbledon’s plan to ban all Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament this year. His name is Novak Djokovic, and he is currently the world’s number one ranked men’s player.
Djokovic has a unique and informed opinion on the matter since he grew up in war-torn Serbia in the 1990s and said that sports and athletes have nothing to do with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I will always condemn war; I will never support war being myself a child of war.I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history. However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy.”
The All England Lawn Tennis Club has been hit with almost universal disdain for their weird decision, and the ATP and WTA tours have blasted them for excluding players from the event.
This is the first time it had happened at Wimbledon since right after World War 2 when German and Japanese players were not allowed to compete. The AELTC said they could change their decision if circumstances change by the time the tourney starts in June.
Djokovic summed things up pretty well, articulating what most sound-minded people with common sense know.
“When politics interfere with sport, the result is not good.”
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