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Wimbledon ban 'very unfair', says Nadal

3 minute read

Spanish star has said the war in Ukraine is not the fault of Russian and Belarusian players, who have been banned by Wimbledon.

RAFAEL NADAL.
RAFAEL NADAL. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal has criticised Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players as "very unfair".

Wimbledon said last week that a directive from the British government, following the invasion of Ukraine, had left them with no alternative but to refuse entries from players from the two countries.

There has been some support for Wimbledon, especially from Ukrainians in tennis, but the reaction has been largely negative.

The ATP and WTA are both deciding whether to impose penalties.

Speaking ahead of his return to action at this week's Madrid Open, Nadal said: "I think it's very unfair (on) my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues. It's not their fault what's happening in this moment with the war."

Action against Wimbledon and other British tournaments run by the Lawn Tennis Association could include the removal of ranking points.

Nadal, who is a member of the ATP Player Council, added: "The 2,000 points, whenever we go to the grand slams, they are really important and we have to go to those tournaments. So we will have to see the measures that we take.

"At the end of the day, what happens in our game doesn't have any importance when we can see so many people dying and suffering and seeing the bad situation they are having in Ukraine."

Nadal, twice Wimbledon champion, is playing in his first tournament in six weeks after suffering a stress fracture of a rib at Indian Wells in March.

His defeat by Taylor Fritz in the final, when he was clearly physically hampered, ended a 20-match winning streak, including the Australian Open final.

He is now battling to get back to his best before the French Open, which begins in three weeks, when he will bid for a record-extending 14th title.

"I'm recovered from the injury but tennis and preparation is another story," he said.

"Anyone who has broken a rib knows how limiting it is, very painful, especially the first weeks. I wasn't able to do anything without a lot of difficulties, even to fall asleep because of the pain.

"I'm taking these days almost like a pre-season, doing double sessions every day.

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