Wimbledon

PaulM · Tennis legend

Wimbledon

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
Just protect the 2021 UK grass points for Russian and Belarus players. Not difficult. I know it's designed as a deterrent, the ITF cancelled a 60k this month in Latvia for this reason, but it seems an obvious compromise.

I think that's what the WTA are thinking of doing

indiana · Tennis legend

PaulM wrote:
Just protect the 2021 UK grass points for Russian and Belarus players. Not difficult. I know it's designed as a deterrent, the ITF cancelled a 60k this month in Latvia for this reason, but it seems an obvious compromise.

And if they had hardly any 2021 UK grass court points, tough cookie, we're not going to allow you to earn 2022 ones?

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
PaulM wrote:
Just protect the 2021 UK grass points for Russian and Belarus players. Not difficult. I know it's designed as a deterrent, the ITF cancelled a 60k this month in Latvia for this reason, but it seems an obvious compromise.
And if they had hardly any 2021 grass court points, tough cookie, we're not going to allow you to earn 2022 ones?

Yes. You should have played better last time.

And, of course, on the flip side, we're not going to allow you to lose them either - which will suit all those who had a great run last time smile

indiana · Tennis legend

Still wouldn't agree and what about a younger Russian / Belarusian fresher on the scene, possibly not even involved last year?

Lambda · Futures level

PaulM wrote:

Just protect the 2021 UK grass points for Russian and Belarus players. Not difficult. I know it's designed as a deterrent, the ITF cancelled a 60k this month in Latvia for this reason, but it seems an obvious compromise.

Latvia was asked to move the tournament to July when it will be clearer on how banning Russian and Belarusian players will be handled.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

It all comes down to a philosophical view on which we individually prefer:

1) there is a war with an aggressive Russian and Belarussian force and we should do all we can to make sure the countries dont benefit and if that means individual tennis players are the victims, that is sad but a casualty I am prepared to accept. If it means Wimbledon in turn is a victim and the other grass events, that is also very sad but so be it

2) do we say that having a tennis circuit where all players are treated the same regardless of where they come from and that needs to take priority - so, in which, case we need to cater for what Wimbledon has done in some way by doing something about the ranking points etc

3) or do we be grown up and not stand miles apart and say, Wimbledon did it what it did for the right moral reasons and without malice, but individual players will suffer and the real thing here is actually ensuring Russian or Belarussians dont get profile and credit through great Wimbledon performances and thus their countries dont get the profile that brings. So if we accept that position, and dont want to hurt all the other players out there who are completely innocent in all this, lets find a way to protect the players points in some way and get on with it. The players here dont really want to cancel Wimbledon do they? It would be hypocrisy to me if they win and get their way and then turn up to play to take the money - so if the points are taken away, those players who voted for it surely cant just rock up for the big money Wimbledon exho.

I am totally for option 3 here - we have done the right thing, now lets find a way. If we dont. I believe Wimbledon will take place but with a depleted field. and the Challengers and Queens etc will probably get cancelled, I would guess.

Shhh · Challenger level

christ wrote:
Sorry. Leaving.

I read this old quote today and thought of you christ......come back soon?

Lord Russell offered a single piece of moral advice in 1959 for future generations.

The moral thing I should wish to say to them is very simple: I should say love is wise, hatred is foolish.

In this world which is getting more and more closely interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other; we have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things we dont like.

We can only live together in that way and if we are to live together and not die together, we must learn a kind of charity and a kind of tolerance, which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on this planet.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Still wouldn't agree and what about a younger Russian / Belarusian fresher on the scene, possibly not even involved last year?

I'm afraid it's no different to me than all those excellent hard-working youngsters who had their Olympic dreams dashed because countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics. And, indeed, worse for them because the Olympics is only once every 4 years.

Now some people may not agree with the boycott either. It's a reasonable position.

But, in my mind, professional international sport overlaps strongly with politics. And I have no problem with that. In fact, I approve.

And it's a lovely quote, Shhh smile

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
indiana wrote:
Still wouldn't agree and what about a younger Russian / Belarusian fresher on the scene, possibly not even involved last year?
I'm afraid it's no different to me than all those excellent hard-working youngsters who had their Olympic dreams dashed because countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics. And, indeed, worse for them because the Olympics is only once every 4 years.
Now some people may not agree with the boycott either. It's a reasonable position.
But, in my mind, professional international sport overlaps strongly with politics. And I have no problem with that. In fact, I approve.
And it's a lovely quote, Shhh

There was a boycott of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal by the African countries because New Zealand Rugby team had toured South Africa and New Zealand were appearing at the Olympics. Some very talented athletes were unable to take part.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Why have Wimbledon banned the Russians/Belarus but the French have not done the same. How are the likes of Putintseva and Rybakina who were both born in Moscow but transferred to Kzakhstan perfectly able to play ? Not sure what connectiion this paIr has with their new country. If the grass court season in Britain was cancelled surely it would be a financial disaster and long term disaster for the LTA and the British game. Same if there are no ranking points and all the players go abroad. As an aside is there any enquiry into the closing of the Stirling Academy losses. Personally think all the players should be allowed to play where ever they want to.Could do better without our politicians interferring. .

-- Edited by GAMEOVER on Thursday 12th of May 2022 12:28:32 PM

Lambda · Futures level

The entry deadline for Surbiton (womens) and all the other ITF events that week has been put back to Monday, presumably while waiting for a decision on what is happening to ranking points.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Both Svitolina and Kostyuk were vocable about Russians/ Belarus appearing at Wimbledon but neither of them appeared for Ukraine v.USA in the BJ King cup in April. As the tennis brings alot to the local economy of Eastbourne cancellation of the tennIs would be a disaster for the town.

-- Edited by GAMEOVER on Thursday 12th of May 2022 12:57:55 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
The entry deadline for Surbiton (womens) and all the other ITF events that week has been put back to Monday, presumably while waiting for a decision on what is happening to ranking points.

Presumably if ranking points are taken off Surbiton (and the other British events), they effectively become exhibitions and taken out of ITF jurisdiction. So not a big shock to see this - Stuttgart entry list is still waiting to be released, and Nottingham womens is up but presumably would see pull outs if the decision is to stop points being awarded

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Thursday 12th of May 2022 01:12:00 PM

nicofrance · Intermediate Club Player

Id hope that the delay in the ATP making a decision re Wimbledon might mean there are continued negotiations going on .

I do wonder whether some form of compromise might be possible re Russian and Belarussian players making a statement re the war in Ukraine .

Wimbledon originally ruled this out over concerns as to what might happen to their families . Is there a form of wording that is acceptable to Wimbledon but also wouldnt lead to possible issues for the families .

Removing ranking points from what is regarded as the premier tennis event in the world would be a huge deal . What would the ATP have done if the ban had been agreed by all slams . Very unlikely they would have done anything , and the Player council would surely not have advocated stripping them all of ranking points .

And if this had only effected lower ranked players would we even be having this discussion .

-- Edited by nicofrance on Thursday 12th of May 2022 01:41:31 PM