Wimbledon

Medvedev was asked about the Wimbledon decision to impose player bans on Russian players.

I want to reproduce the joy to play on clay like last year. Medvedev : "I'm focused on@rolandgarros, I had tough moments here and very good last year. If I can play, I'm happy to play," Medvedev noted. I want to reproduce the joy to play on clay like last year. "I'm focused on Roland Garros. I had tough moments here and very good last year. "On clay, I can lose against anybody, let's be honest.

Roger Federer has suddenly been wiped from the ATP Tour rankings in the wake of the bombshell decision to strip Wimbledon of rankings points this year.

Djokovic, the 2021 Wimbledon gentleman’s singles champion will lose all 2000 rankings points from the tournament. “To say that I am disappointed in @atptour would be understatement. He posted on Instagram: “No ranking points in Wimbledon and ranking points will drop from 2021. No chance to defend them. Roger Federer has suddenly been wiped from the ATP Tour rankings in the wake of the bombshell decision to strip Wimbledon of rankings points this year. It is one of many after-shocks to the decision to strip Wimbledon of rankings points.

FILE - A spectator holding a Russian flag watches during the men's singles third round match between Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Croatia's Marin Cilic on ...

It is not yet known whether players from Russia or Belarus will be able to enter the U.S. Open, the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, which begins in New York on Aug. 29. “Our rules and agreements exist in order to protect the rights of players as a whole,” the ATP said. In addition to other measures such as trophies or prize money, rankings are a way for fans, sponsors and others — including the players themselves — to understand where athletes stand in the sport’s hierarchy. In tennis, players from those countries have been allowed to compete — including at the French Open, the year’s second Grand Slam tournament, which begins Sunday in Paris — but as “neutral” athletes who are not being identified by their nationalities. The WTA’s No. 7, Aryna Sabalenka, who was a semifinalist at Wimbledon a year ago, and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, are from Belarus. The All England Club, which runs the oldest Grand Slam tournament (Wimbledon was first held in 1877), announced in April it would not allow players from Russia or Belarus to enter the event in 2022.

A general view outside Court No.1 at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on April 26, 2022 in London, England. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.

“However, we note that this was informal guidance, not a mandate, which offered an alternative option that would have left the decision in the hands of individual players competing as neutral athletes through a signed declaration.” Unilateral decisions of this nature, if unaddressed, set a damaging precedent for the rest of the Tour,” the ATP noted in a statement. As a report from Sky Sports pointed out, this would lead to several high-profile men’s and women’s players to miss the tournament.

Nothing sums up the chaos of Wimbledon's ranking statement more than the elevation to world No 1 that it will bring Daniil Medvedev.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek is hot favourite for the women’s. The French Open will plough on today. There will be further recriminations over the next month. Either way, the various parties did not connect very well. Roger Federer, missing anyway, will lose his ranking altogether, so too Serena Williams unless she plays beforehand (it looks increasingly unlikely she will play at all). Stripping Wimbledon of ranking points is set to push Russian Daniil Medvedev to world No 1 and dethrone Novak Djokovic at the summit of tennis

Australia's No 1 says she will suffer because of the ATP and WTA's decision to turn the grand slam into a glorified exhibition event.

It is possible the WTA could decide to freeze the 2021 Wimbledon ranking points, which would protect Tomljanovic, but she was not hopeful. Sometimes unfair things happen and you’ve just got to roll with the punches.” “I don’t think they’ll carry over the points earned from 2021, they’ll get wiped and then you don’t have a chance to defend your points.