Australian Open champion Rafa Nadal labelled the ban on Russian and Belarusian players from this year's Wimbledon over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as unfair.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) barred players from the two countries from competing at this year's grasscourt major in response to what Russia calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine. Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.
"I think it's very unfair to my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues. In that sense it's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war," 21-times major winner Nadal told reporters at the Madrid Open on Sunday.
"Let's see what happens in the next weeks, if the players will take some kind of decision ... there's one thing that's negative, there are things that are clear. When the government imposes some restrictions, you just have to follow them."
AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt said British government guidance did not allow players to compete at the event based on their rankings and there were two available options -- declining entries or allowing entries but only with specific written declarations from individual players.
Britain's former world number one Andy Murray said there was no right answer on the issue.
"I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel if something happened to one of the players or their families (as a result of signing the form)," Murray said.
"I don't think there's a right answer. I've spoken to some of the Russian players... some of the Ukrainian players.
"I feel really bad for the players who aren't allowed to play and I get that it will seem unfair to them. But I also know some of the people who work at Wimbledon, and I know how difficult a position they were in."
The AELTC's decision has been condemned by both the men's and women's tours as well as several other players.
World number one Novak Djokovic, who has also criticised the ban, said on Sunday that he had spoken to Russian players during last week's Serbia Open and it was tough for them to be excluded from the tournament.
"It's hard. I understand that there is frustration. ATP is going to, I guess, analyse the whole situation and understand what can be done," said the Serbian.
"I stand by my position that I don't support the decision. I think it's just not fair, it's not right... now I guess it's on player council, the tour management, to really decide along with the players what is the best solution in this situation."
READ MORE: Latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine crisis
Reuters
Mon May 02 2022
Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after completing the honorary kick off before the Real Madrid v Espanyol La Liga match, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain, April 30, 2022 - REUTERS/Juan Medina
TikTok saman kerajaan AS
Saman difailkan di Mahkamah Rayuan Daerah Colombia atas alasan ia mencabuli Perlembagaan.
Selangor lancar kempen 'Stand With Faisal Halim. Stop The Violence!'
Faisal Halim hanya seorang insan kecil dari Pulau Pinang yang mempunyai impian besar.
Patuh santuni jemaah, petugas haji saban tahun
Kemahiran berkomunikasi, fasih berbahasa Arab, Melayu dan Bahasa Inggeris jadi nilai tambah kepada Pembantu Petugas Haji (PATUH) dalam menyantuni jemaah dan petugas haji dari Malaysia setiap kali ketibaan musim haji.
Operasi Israel di Rafah berbentuk terhad - AS
Operasi itu bertujuan mengekang penyeludupan senjata dan dana kepada kumpulan pejuang Hamas di Gaza.
AWANI Pagi: Harapan Palestin & pupuk sifat sukarelawan anak muda
Ikuti temuramah wartawan Afiezy Azaman dengan Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, Presiden Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (MAPIM) di Kaherah, Mesir berkaitan isu Palestin.
#AWANInews #AWANIpagi
#AWANInews #AWANIpagi
'Henti serang Rafah atau tiada gencatan senjata' - Hamas
Osama Hamdan tegaskan pilihan kini berada di tangan Perdana Menteri Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hatrik Muhammad Azrai Aizad bantu Speedy Tigers kejutkan New Zealand 6-4
Sarjit menuntut anak buahnya untuk sekali lagi menampilkan aksi terpuji apabila menentang Jepun Rabu ini.
Hidup bersama secara aman antara 10 resolusi Persidangan Antarabangsa Ketua-Ketua Agama
Resolusi itu dibacakan oleh Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff.
Lintasan Karem Shalom dibuka semula
Susulan tindak kejam israel menutup lintasan Rafah, satu-satunya laluan bantuan kemanusiaan memasuki Gaza.
Amerika Syarikat berkata, mereka dimaklumkan bahawa lintasan Karem Shalom, yang sebelum ini ditutup Israel akan dibuka semula pada Rabu.
Amerika Syarikat berkata, mereka dimaklumkan bahawa lintasan Karem Shalom, yang sebelum ini ditutup Israel akan dibuka semula pada Rabu.
Operasi Israel di Rafah berbentuk terhad
Penasihat keselamatan White House, John Kirby mengesahkan operasi Israel di Rafah bertujuan mengekang penyeludupan senjata dan dana kepada Hamas.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga
Serena Williams berjaya mengetepikan bintang Serbia, Nina Stojanovic pada Terbuka Australia untuk kemenangan 6-3, 6-0 di Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020
Novak Djokovic muncul juara perseorangan lelaki kejohanan tenis Terbuka Australia 2020 selepas berjaya membenam Dominic Thiem sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan
Austria Dominic Thiem mara ke final Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama selepas tundukkan Alexander Zverev sebentar tadi.
Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia
Roger Federer gagal melepasi Novak Djokovic untuk mara ke final Terbuka Australia 2020.
Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10
Rafael Nadal bertarung bagi mendapatkan tempat ke perlawanan suku akhir Terbuka Australia selepas menundukkan Diego Schwartzman, sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir
Caroline Wozniacki melangkah ke suku akhir Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama sejak 2012 selepas melakar kemenangan ke atas Magdalena Rybarikova.
Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event
The 12-time grand slam winner was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match.