Elina Svitolina said Russian and Belarusian players who denounce Moscow’s invasion of her country Ukraine should be allowed to participate at Wimbledon.
Organisers of the grasscourt grand slam in London have announced that Russian and Belarusian competitors will be banned from this year’s tournament.
The decision means that the likes of men’s world No.2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia and women’s fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus are ruled out of the June 27-July 10 tournament.
World No.25 Svitolina joined fellow Ukrainian players on Wednesday in seeking a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions but appeared to soften her stance in an interview with the BBC on Thursday.
❌'We don't want to ban them completely'
🎾Ukrainian tennis star @ElinaSvitolina says Russian and Belarusian players should be allowed at Wimbledon if they denounce the Russian invasion.
🎧Listen back on @BBCSounds
— BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) April 21, 2022
“We don’t want them banned completely,” Svitolina said.
“If players don’t speak out against the Russian government, then it is the right thing to ban them.
“We just want them to speak up, if they are with us and the rest of the world or the Russian government. This is for me the main point.
“If they didn’t choose, didn’t vote for this government, then it’s fair they should be allowed to play and compete.”
The governing bodies of men’s and women’s tennis have criticised Wimbledon for its decision.
Svitolina, who has friends and family still in Ukraine, said Russian and Belarusian players had to do more.
‼️💙💛🇺🇦✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/UK04g8OOh9
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) April 20, 2022
Medvedev made a plea for peace on Twitter in February, while his compatriot Andrey Rublev wrote “No War Please” on the lens of a TV camera on his way to winning the Dubai title.
“I can count on one hand how many Russian and Belarusian players who have asked me how I’m doing, how is my family, is everyone safe?” Svitolina said.
“That’s why I feel sad about this situation. Personally some people should do a bit more than they’ve done. It’s mysterious.
“The way Russian and Belarusian players have been is very sad. We’re colleagues who see each other every week, so it’s shocking to see this change and so quick.”
-Reuters
