FTU director Zukin: ATP decision not to remove tennis players from aggressor countries was not a surprise

Vice President and Executive Director of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation Evgeny Zukin commented on the decision of the ATP and WTA to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in their tournaments.

The membership of the tennis federations of the two aggressor countries in the ITF was suspended after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but at the individual level, athletes are allowed to enter the largest tournaments under a neutral flag.

The exception was the British tournaments, including Wimbledon, which this year will not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in their competitions.

“Of course, we raised the issue of excluding not only teams, but also, if possible, individual players. But there was no great chance of his decision initially. But the war continues. Every day she brings evidence of the terrible atrocities of the aggressors. All this happened from the first days of the total invasion and is still happening. Under such conditions, a more rigorous response is needed. The Tennis Federation of Ukraine decided to support the boycott of individual athletes as well. During this time, they have not declared their clear position in relation to the war in Ukraine. Personally, I think that if tennis players took an anti-war stance, it would do us more good as a country than their suspension. But, unfortunately, neither one nor the other happened, ”Zukin said.

“For me personally, the decision of the ATP not to remove athletes from the aggressor countries did not come as a big surprise. Tennis has always focused on the commercial component. For example, Novak Djokovic, with his resentment towards Australia, when he alone was not allowed to the Australian Open – although there were players who were also not allowed – did everything possible to make just such a decision. But the fact that the ITF took points at Wimbledon also from juniors and wheelchair tennis players is, of course, a big disappointment. Thus they supported the ATP and WTA. I have some more information, but I will not voice it. Let’s just say that only in the general interest of a common tennis truce could this happen. I will meet, talk more, find out.”

“We have those who support us: it is [британская] LTA, as for the players, it must be admitted that the French federation has done a lot, the Swiss federation has provided asylum to 12 of our athletes. Poland did not help through the federation, but individual clubs did a lot. We are starting a new stage of cooperation with the Lithuanian Federation, which will soon be known to everyone.”

“LTA, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Belgium openly supported the suspension of Russian and Belarusian players. On the sidelines, many more people declared their support. At Tennis Europe, this question regarding individual players was put to a vote, and the votes were split 60-40 – that is, 40 percent believe that individual players should also be suspended. It’s not so much anymore. But most of the tennis elite believe that it would be unfair to ban these athletes from playing, that they are not to blame.

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine with the support of Belarus continues for the 106th day.