"Everyone is against the war" - Mouratoglou shocked by Wimbledon decision to ban playres

Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou has admitted he was "shocked" by the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon.

Wimbledon announced on Wednesday that players from those two nations will not be allowed to compete at the championships this year, due to the two countries' involvement in the war on Ukraine and the potential fallout should they be drawn against Ukrainian opponents. The ban includes Russian men's world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian women's world No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka.

Speaking to Tennis Majors, the noted coach said:

“Banning Russian and Belarusian players from playing at Wimbledon is a very shocking decision for me. Leave the politics to the politicians. Of course, there is a war. Everyone is against the war, including players from Russia and Belarus."

Mouratoglou further said:

"I understand the position of the Ukrainian players because there is war in their country, they have friends, family, who have been killed or who fear being killed tomorrow. I understand that they want very strong points from Russian and Belarusian players. Now, if you're in their shoes, Russians and Belarusians, they have their families living in Russia and by saying something like that, like condemning the government, they are potentially putting their own family in trouble. So, I think Russian players and Belarusian players have said a lot already!"