Wimbledon bosses are consulting with the government on whether to allow players from Russia and Belarus to play in this year’s tournament. The All England Lawn Tennis Club said the issue was “complex and challenging”. Belarusian and Russian players, such as world number two Daniil Medvedev, have been allowed to play on tour, but not under the flags of their countries. “We intend to announce a decision before our entry deadline in mid-May,” AELTC said in a statement. Russia has been banned from defending its Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup titles following the country’s invasion of Ukraine – a Belarussian-backed military operation. Teams and athletes from both countries have been subjected to various suspensions and sanctions by various bodies across the sports spectrum. “We have taken note of the UK Government’s instructions regarding the presence of Russian and Belarusian neutrals at sporting events in the UK,” the AELTC said in a statement. “We continue to engage in discussions with the UK government, the Tennis Court and international tennis players.” Wimbledon will run from June 27 to July 10.
