[SamsNCharge99]

They are playing now under no flag, so what's the difference winning an ATP 500 or masters 1000 vs a grand slam playing under no flag

Rublev even said he's willing to donate money to the cause, he just wants to play and compete. Hell it's literally his job to play tennis so being banned from a tournament is detrimental to his job

[thomorino]

Disgusting, its a horrible precedent. Every time a government does something someone disagrees with you are going to ban players who have no affiliation or connection to the government whatsoever.

Its all for show to, none of this does is going to change anything.

[pavyracer]

The British can't stand that their players are inferior to Russian players. The only way for their players to have a chance is to ban the better Russian players.

This is like banning the Dodgers and Yankees from the World Series so that Brewers get a better chance to win it

[Conqueror]

The ban is unjust! The players are not members of Putin's cabinet.

[semibluff]

Disappointing that so many posters here don't understand, or don't care, why this stance has been taken.

[Optional]

The British can't stand that their players are inferior to Russian players. The only way for their players to have a chance is to ban the better Russian players.

This is like banning the Dodgers and Yankees from the World Series so that Brewers get a better chance to win it

I really don't think it's that.

More that Russia has invaded their country and assassinated people multiple times in recent history.

[pavyracer]

I really don't think it's that.

More that Russia has invaded their country and assassinated people multiple times in recent history.

Russia never invaded Britain. It's the other way around. Britain had wars with Russia but there were on Russian soil like the Crimean War in 19th century. Britain has always been the aggressor against Russia. But the hate is mutual between the two nations. Even Churchill hated Stalin even though Stalin was the reason Britain did not get invaded by Germany.

[Conqueror]

Disappointing that so many posters here don't understand, or don't care, why this stance has been taken.

The issue is what is the link between an athlete and the decision(s) of the government of his/her native country?
If the Biden administration decides to invade a foreign country, why should the likes of John Isner, Reilly Opelka, Sophia Kenin, Coco Gauff, etc., be banned from playing tennis abroad?

[pavyracer]

The issue is what is the link between an athlete and the decision(s) of the government of his/her native country?
If the Biden administration decides to invade a foreign country, why should the likes of John Isner, Reilly Opelka, Sophia Kenin, Coco Gauff, etc., be banned from playing tennis abroad?

Good point. I believe all US Athletes competed during The Second Iraq War which was an invasion of a sovereign country without provocation by the use of manufactured lies.

[Optional]

Russia never invaded Britain. It's the other way around. Britain had wars with Russia but there were on Russian soil like the Crimean War in 19th century. Britain has always been the aggressor against Russia. But the hate is mutual between the two nations. Even Churchill hated Stalin even though Stalin was the reason Britain did not get invaded by Germany.

Hell yeah it has!! Spies on assassination missions counts as invaders.

And I was not saying one is more right than the other. Just that England has good reasons for the population there to give a lot more phuks than you do about this issue.


Much much better reason than your doing it to cheat a tennis win theory anyway.

[dhristov211]

Fun discussion. So they are not playing, or playing under no flag?

[SamsNCharge99]

Fun discussion. So they are not playing, or playing under no flag?

as of now, Russian and Belarus players play under no flag

wimbledon currently has banned them from playing in their event

ATP/WTA both disagree with the decision and I'm sure more drama will continue as it gets closer to the event