"I'm going to play tennis and not be a politician": Zverev weighs in on Russian and Belarusian ban being lifted
ATP
Alexander Zverev wasn't that bothered when it came to Russian and Belarusian players being let back into 2023 Wimbledon.
Zverev held a similar view to Aryna Sabalenka in that sport and politics shouldn't mix with him saying it is his job to play tennis and not worry about other issues surrounding the tournament and who is in and out.
Russian and Belarusian players were banned last year and ranking points were stripped as a result but both were part of a U-turn.
"I know there are other opinions, but I'm going to Wimbledon to play tennis there and not to be a politician," said the 26-year-old.
Andrey Rublev in particular has spoken out against the war and has even said about potentially defecting to another country and Zverev doesn't think he should be punished for it.
"I think Andrey in particular has spoken out very, very often against the war. I don't think you can punish him for being born in a country that is now at war," continued Rublev.
"What does that change? That Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are in - which doesn't make it any easier for anyone."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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