The US Open will not follow Wimbledon’s lead and will allow Russian and Belarussian players to compete in this year’s tournament, which begins on August 29.
Players from Russia and Belarus will be barred from competing at Wimbledon later this month, prompting the men’s ATP and women’s WTA Tours to deduct ranking points from the Grand Slam.
Despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the US Open will allow players from Russia and Belarus to compete this year.
It means that Daniil Medvedev, Russia’s world number one, will be able to defend his title.
The United States Tennis Association issued the following statement: “The USTA will allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2022 US Open, but only under a neutral flag.”
“The USTA, which owns and operates the US Open, has previously condemned, and continues to condemn, Russia’s unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine, alongside the other Grand Slams, the ITF, the ATP, and the WTA.”
“The USTA supported the exclusion of the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations from the ITF, and thus all international team competitions, as well as the directive for players from those countries to compete under a neutral flag when competing outside of international team competitions.”
“We recognise that each organisation has had to deal with unique circumstances that affect their decisions. Based on our own circumstances, the USTA will allow all eligible players, regardless of nationality, to compete at the 2022 US Open.
“The USTA will work with the players and both Tours to use the US Open as a platform to further the humanitarian effort of the ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ program. In addition, the USTA will introduce a broad, comprehensive set of initiatives to amplify existing Ukrainian humanitarian efforts, including committing to significant financial support, for which details will be announced soon.”
“The United States Trade Representative will respond very soon with a broad set of initiatives, including significant financial assistance and other programmes to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine.”
“The USTA will be responding very soon with a broad set of initiatives that will include significant financial assistance and other programs to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine.”
Medvedev won his first grand slam title at Flushing Meadows last year, defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
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