Women’s Tennis World Reacts To Wimbledon’s Ban Of Russians

At least one tennis player is disgusted with Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian athletes from this summer’s tournament.

Victoria Azarenka (who at one time was the No. 1 tennis player in the world, wants the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to protest and combat the ban.

“If you are asking me if I agree with Wimbledon or see their reasoning after being on a personal call with them, I don’t see their reasoning,” Azarenka said. “It does not make sense and it does not connect to what they are saying. It is a matter that I am very strongly opposed to. I will never, ever support war.”

Azarenka is able to do it. It’s not like any Russian or Belarusian tennis player is a sellout for Vladimir Putin and his political actions, so it doesn’t make sense that anyone born in those countries should have to face this wacky form of punishment.

Related: Wimbledon Allows Unvaxxed To Play, But Not Russians

This situation is made even more exciting by the addition of world No. 92 and Ukrainian international Dayana Yastremska is actually thrilled she won’t have to see any players from these nations in England.

“How would I be able to play against those players at the tournament when all the world is talking about the war that is being fought against Ukraine?,” Yastremka said. “So I think the decision they are making is right. The decision that they took was respectful and right. What they’ve done for Ukraine is the right thing. Other players (Ukrainian) are supporting it as well.”

Wimbledon’s choice was incorrect, as is supporting it.

While the nations in question might be at war at a larger level, these players in question are not interested in harming people like Yastremska (see Azarenak’s quote). Further compounding the problem is to claim that punishing someone for doing something they are not responsible for is good.