World primary Novak Djokovic stated Wimbledon’s choice to ban Russian and Belarusian gamers over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is “loopy.”
Wimbledon introduced on Wednesday that it had barred all Russian and Belarusian gamers from this yr’s championships because of the invasion, which Russia calls a “particular operation.”
The grasscourt Grand Slam is the primary tennis match to ban particular person opponents from the 2 international locations, that means males’s world quantity two Daniil Medvedev from Russia and ladies’s fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will likely be banned from the June 27-July 10 match.
Djokovic, who grew up in war-torn Serbia, stated the athletes had nothing to do with the continued battle.
“I'll all the time condemn conflict, I'll by no means help conflict being myself a toddler of conflict,” Djokovic informed reporters on the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 occasion in Belgrade.
“I understand how a lot emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia everyone knows what occurred in 1999. Within the Balkans we've had many wars in current historical past.
“Nonetheless, I can not help the choice of Wimbledon, I believe it's loopy.
“When politics interferes with sport, the outcome will not be good.”
The All England Garden Tennis Membership’s (AELTC) choice has been criticized by the ATP and WTA excursions.
The transfer is the primary time gamers have been banned on the grounds of nationality because the fast post-World Battle Two period when German and Japanese gamers have been excluded.
The AELTC stated it will “take into account and reply accordingly” if circumstances change between now and June.
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