The statements made by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on the Wimbledon ban for Russian and Belarusian players were not welcomed by Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian player thinks Russian and Belarusian tennis players are receiving too much solidarity.
She said to Reuters: “I want my colleagues to support and understand the situation by expressing their views. But listening to Djokovic and Nadal’s words, I wonder: How can you get the support of the Tour when two of the best tennis players in history say these things? I would say that 80-85% of the players have nothing to do with the decision of the WTA.
I couldn’t believe it. No Player Council representative has contacted me. None of them asked my opinion. It is as if Ukrainian tennis players did not exist. Most of the time you feel like you have no hope. I’m only 19 and it’s not easy for me.
Victoria Azarenka is on the Council, she makes decisions on the points to be awarded at Wimbledon, a tournament in which she will not participate. And she says she has no personal interest in making these kinds of decisions.
Just the fact that you are present for calls is ridiculous.”
What Djokovic and Nadal said
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were not afraid to express their personal point of view on the choice made by the Wimbledon organizers and on the sanctions applied by the ATP and WTA Tours.
The All England Club board have announced that the next edition of the London Slam will not be giving away points due to the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players. Djokovic analyzed in the press conference during the French Open 2022: “I am certainly penalized for not being able to defend 4000 points, but I am very happy to see ATP and players determined to prove at Wimbledon that when you make a wrong decision there are consequences.
We will play anyway, Wimbledon is always Wimbledon. Playing there has been my dream since I was a child and I have never seen it as a mere question of points or prize money.” Nadal explained: “Russian and Belarusian tennis players cannot do much.
What is their fault for what is happening? I’m really sorry for them. However, I say that what happens in our sport is irrelevant in the face of so many people who die and suffer. Wimbledon is a very unfair decision.”
