Wimbledon vs. the ATP / WTA / ITF - Ranking points and the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players in The Championships 2022

[Alan Stallion]

As of today, the ATP, WTA and ITF boards have decided to remove their ranking points for The Championships 2022 (Wimbledon), a decision made following the Wimbledon's April 20 decision to exclude all players from Russia and Belarus following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They (ATP/WTA/ITF) take the argument to protect the rights and equal opportunities of players as a whole and to not discriminate against people because of their nationalities, and that their rankings are based on merit alone and Wimbledon is violating the merited ranking system. The ATP notes they have suspended the ATP Tour event in Moscow and supports humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Wimbledon has issued a response defending their decision to not allow their tournament to be used to "benefit the propaganda machine for the Russian regime."

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Wimbledon's original statement (20 April 2022) regarding excluding Russian and Belarusian individuals from The Championships 2022...

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2022-04-20/statement_regarding_russian_and_belarusian_individuals_at_the_championships_2022.html

ATP Statement on the removal of ranking points at 2022 Wimbledon...

ATP Statement On Removal Of Ranking Points At 2022 Wimbledon | ATP Tour | Tennis

ATP issues a statement on the removal of ranking points at 2022 Wimbledon.

www.atptour.com

Statement by Steve Simon on WTA's course of action following Wimbledon's and the LTA's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players...

Statement from Steve Simon on UK grass-court events

The official website of the Women's Tennis Association. Rankings, live scores and more!

www.wtatennis.com

Wimbledon's statement regarding ATP / WTA / ITF ranking point at The Championships...

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2022-05-20/statement_regarding_atp_wta_itf_ranking_points_at_the_championships.html

Where do you stand?

As much as I've loved The Champions of Wimbledon, and with no love for Vladimir Putin's actions, I have to side against Wimbledon on this matter and may not watch this year.

 

[White 6]

Heck with them. Right now, that country is not known to work and play well with others.

 

[Alan Stallion]

In case anybody is wondering about the other tournaments in the United Kingdom leading up to Wimbledon, the ATP addressed this in their statement...

Separately, as previously announced, we confirm that ranking points will remain at ATP Tour events at Queen’s (ATP 500), Eastbourne (ATP 250) and ATP Challenger events in the UK. We have taken this decision on the basis that alternative playing opportunities are open to Russian and Belarusian players in those weeks, unlike during Wimbledon, which minimises any impact on the integrity of the rankings. Sanctions related to LTA’s violation of ATP rules will be assessed separately.

 

[Alan Stallion]

ATP FAQ on the decision

FAQ On ATP's Decision Regarding 2022 Wimbledon | ATP Tour | Tennis

ATP answers frequently asked questions regarding its decision to remove ATP Rankings points from 2022 Wimbledon.

www.atptour.com

Couple of highlights from that FAQ...

How much involvement did the players have in this decision to remove points from Wimbledon?
We’ve had extensive consultation with the Player Council, which represents the interests of the wider player group, as well as Russian and Belarusian players. In general, our conversations have stressed that this is a time to put self-interest to one side and to understand the broader picture for tennis.

Of course, we know that not all players will agree with the position we’ve taken. Our ongoing dialogue with Ukrainian players over the last months has made their position on the matter clear, for example. Our hope is that they can understand these rules are in place to protect the integrity of competition, which is fundamental to tennis.

Do the Russian and Belarusian players support the move you have made?
This decision has not been made at the request of Russian or Belarusian players. There is no self-interest behind this decision. Instead, we are taking a wider collective view - protecting the rights of the player group as a whole, no matter their nationality or place of birth, across our Tour.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Russian players and their current ranking (top 100 players) that will be excluded from playing Wimbledon 2022...
Males
2 - Daniil Medvedev
7 - Andrey Rublev
24 - Karen Khachanov
39- Aslan Karatsev
Females
20- Daria Kasatkina
26- Liudmila Samsonova
30- Veronika Kudermetova
31- Ekaterina Alexandrova
71- Varvara Gracjeva
78- Anastasia Potapova
82- Anna Kalinskaya

Belarusian players and their current ranking (top 100 players) that will be excluded from playing Wimbledon 2022...
Males
50 - Ilya Ivashka
Females
7 - Aryna Sabalenka
15 - Victoria Azarenka
45 - Aliaksandra Sasnovich

 

[Alan Stallion]

Roland Garros (French Open) begins this Sunday, and all merited (and non-injured) players are entered, no exclusions for nationality (or Covid vaccination-status). So if you want to check out the listed players above, this may be your last chance for awhile.

 

[Quasar44]

As of today, the ATP, WTA and ITF boards have decided to remove their ranking points for The Championships 2022 (Wimbledon), a decision made following the Wimbledon's April 20 decision to exclude all players from Russia and Belarus following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They (ATP/WTA/ITF) take the argument to protect the rights and equal opportunities of players as a whole and to not discriminate against people because of their nationalities, and that their rankings are based on merit alone and Wimbledon is violating the merited ranking system. The ATP notes they have suspended the ATP Tour event in Moscow and supports humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Wimbledon has issued a response defending their decision to not allow their tournament to be used to "benefit the propaganda machine for the Russian regime."

---

Wimbledon's original statement (20 April 2022) regarding excluding Russian and Belarusian individuals from The Championships 2022...

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2022-04-20/statement_regarding_russian_and_belarusian_individuals_at_the_championships_2022.html

ATP Statement on the removal of ranking points at 2022 Wimbledon...

ATP Statement On Removal Of Ranking Points At 2022 Wimbledon | ATP Tour | Tennis

ATP issues a statement on the removal of ranking points at 2022 Wimbledon.

www.atptour.com

Statement by Steve Simon on WTA's course of action following Wimbledon's and the LTA's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players...

Statement from Steve Simon on UK grass-court events

The official website of the Women's Tennis Association. Rankings, live scores and more!

www.wtatennis.com

Wimbledon's statement regarding ATP / WTA / ITF ranking point at The Championships...

https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2022-05-20/statement_regarding_atp_wta_itf_ranking_points_at_the_championships.html

Where do you stand?

As much as I've loved The Champions of Wimbledon, and with no love for Vladimir Putin's actions, I have to side against Wimbledon on this matter and may not watch this year.

W has been bad Tennis for decades by screwing up the surface
The British are garbage

 

[Alan Stallion]

The major downside to the ATP/WTA/ITF not recognizing points for this year's Wimbledon is that the 2021 points will come off for players who played that Wimbledon, most affecting those who achieved the most, particularly Novak Djokovic who won in 2021. This would be the second Grand Slam tourney he'll lose all points for (Australian Open being the other one). Even if Novak is allowed to play and repeat as Champion, it'll be to no effect, rankings-wise.

So ironically, Russian Daniil Medvedev could regain #1 ranking by the combined decision of Wimbledon's stance and the ATP/WTA/ITF's stance.

So I actually have issues with both sides here, though more so with Wimbledon's decision, which ignited this controversy.