Casper Ruud believes Wimbledon made the right decision in allowing Russian and Belarusian players to return to The Championships in 2023.
Last Friday, Wimbledon officially confirmed what was rumored for weeks – Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to compete at The All England Club after missing the tournament in 2022.
Ruud, who made two Grand Slam finals last year, revealed he was disappointed after Russian and Belarusian players weren’t allowed to compete at 2022 Wimbledon.
“It’s not their fault where they were born. As a colleague and opponent, you regretted that they couldn’t play last year. It’s one of the biggest and most historic tournaments we have, so it’s kind of fair and nice that they can play again. I mean, you can’t ask much more from these guys,” Ruud told Eurosport.
Ruud welcomes the Wimbledon decision
In a lengthy statement, Wimbledon announced they were ending their ban on Russian and Belarusian players.
In their statement, the Wimbledon organizers confirmed they were under pressure to allow Russian and Belarusian players to return to the tournament.
Also, Wimbledon confirmed that another ban on Russian and Belarusian players would have resulted in major repercussions for the AELTC and LTA.
“We continue to condemn totally Russia’s illegal invasion and our wholehearted support remains with the people of Ukraine. This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted. It is our view that, considering all factors, these are the most appropriate arrangements for The Championships for this year. We are thankful for the Government’s support as we and our fellow tennis stakeholder bodies have navigated this complex matter and agreed on conditions we believe are workable. If circumstances change materially between now and the commencement of The Championships, we will consider and respond accordingly,” AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt said.
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