Novak Djokovic

The decision from organisers of Wimbledon, made following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has provoked a mixed response from across the tennis world.

'Wimbledon, like the Masters however also has the status of a 'major' tournament due to its history and quality of field. They may face the ATP/WTA evaluating their status as a major and ranking tournament. 'Ultimately any legal challenge would likely be undermined by the AELTC arguing that they are acting within their powers under the constitution of the event and any player wishing to participate has to abide by the event's constitution. For example, entry to the Masters golf tournament is ostensibly by invitation only,' says Stephen Taylor Heath, Head of Sports Law at JMW Solicitors. When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.' In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history.

Russian and Belarusian players have been banned from competing at Wimbledon and in all LTA grass court tournaments this summer over Russia's invasion of ...

When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good," he added. Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka (18) is also excluded. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history.

Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic on Wednesday criticized Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year's event after the ...

Other key players who are set to miss the tournament include eighth-ranked men’s player Andrey Rublev from Russia, his compatriot World No. 15 women’s player Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and former women’s World No. 1 Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka. Wimbledon is the first major tennis event to ban the participation of players from these countries and it is unclear if any of the other three Grand Slams will follow suit. Djokovic is no stranger to controversies surrounding rules that exclude players from participating in grand slam events. In the Balkans we have had many wars in recent history,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic condemned the war in Ukraine, while Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina called for players to state where they stand on Russia's invasion.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, the world’s fourth-ranked women’s player, was a Wimbledon and U.S. Open semifinalist last year. The move affects a handful of players, none more prominent than Daniil Medvedev, the 26-year-old Russian who lost last year in Wimbledon’s fourth round and was the second choice in betting markets to win this year’s event. If players don’t speak out against the Russian government, then it is the right thing to ban them,” she told the BBC’s Radio Five Live Breakfast. “We just want them to speak up, if they are with us and the rest of the world or the Russian government. Facing the possibility of legal challenges, the AELTC said it would “consider and respond accordingly” if circumstances change before the tournament begins on June 27. “We don’t want them banned completely. In the Balkans, we have had many wars in recent history.

Novak Djokovic criticised Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players over the invasion of Ukraine as "crazy”.

That decision means that the men's world No 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia and the women's No 4 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won't be able to participate in the tournament that starts June 27. Djokovic, who grew up in Belgrade during the wars that broke up the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, is the defending Wimbledon men's singles champion. he SW19 Grand Slam became the first tennis tournament to ban competitors from the two countries following the Kremlin-led invasion that Russia and its ally Belarus call "a special operation".

London-based tennis tournament announced the player ban in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In the Balkans, we have had many wars in recent history.” In Serbia, we all know what happened in 1999. The UK-based tennis tournament announced the ban in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Men's No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, No. 8 Andrey Rublev and women's No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka are ineligible to participate due to the decision. Novak Djokovic, the ...

When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good.” However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy. “I know how much emotional trauma it leaves,” he said, via CNN. “In Serbia, we all know what happened in 1999.

Djokovic found form as the match went on to clinch a 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory in Belgrade.

Kecmanovic has been having an excellent season and held on to an early break to take the first set, but Djokovic hit back from a break down in the second and finished the match playing his best tennis of a disrupted season. Speaking in his on-court interview, Djokovic, who is playing just his third tournament of the year, said: “I’m very pleased that I’m not going to play a Serbian player for a change because its a very strange feeling sharing the court with your compatriots. Novak Djokovic recovered from a set down for the second match in a row to defeat compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic and reach the semi-finals of the Serbian Open.