Tennis icon Rafael Nadal has been heavily criticised by a former Ukrainian player over his recent comments regarding Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belurusian players.
Following a rib injury, the Spaniard will return to tour on Wednesday to compete in the Madrid Open - his first event since losing to Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final in March. While speaking with reporters ahead of his opening match in the his country's capital, the 35-year-old expressed his opinion on the controversial decision made by the All England Club.
“It’s unfair for my Russian colleagues,” he said. “In that sense it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war. I’m sorry for them. I wish it was not this way, but at the end of the day we know that this is what we have.” This prompted an angry response from Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky, who bit back at Nadal’s comments in defence of his people and country.
“@rafaelnadal we competed together.. we’ve played each other on tour. Please tell me how it is fair that Ukrainian players cannot return home?,” the former world number 31 tweeted. “How it is fair that Ukrainian kids cannot ply tennis? How is it fair that Ukrainians are dying?”
Ukraine continues to remain under siege from Russian forces, who resumed their shelling of a steel plant in the city of Mariupol on Sunday, immediately after the partial evacuation of civilians. As many as 100,000 people may still be in war-torn port city, including an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters underneath the Azovstal steel plant.
In the wake of the sanctions imposed on the Russian and Belarusian players, the reigning Australian Open champion suggested that players may need to take a stand in response to the shock announcement last month. “As a fellow player, what can I say? I feel sorry for them,” Nadal continued. “I wish this was not the case. Let’s see what happens in the coming weeks and let’s see if we as players need to take a stand. There is something wrong.”
Confirming the announcement, a statement from the Lawn Tennis Association read: “After careful consideration the LTA believes that tennis must join many other areas of sport and public life in sending a clear signal to the Russian and Belarusian states that their actions in Ukraine are the subject of international condemnation.
“The continuing participation of Russian and Belarusian nationals at events risks providing a boost to these regimes when there is an unprecedented international effort to isolate them and sanction their actions. The LTA also recognises that individual Russian and Belarusian players may not agree with the actions of their Governments and this is a situation beyond their control.
“Never-the-less the national governing body believes that it is important to do all it can to support Ukraine at this time, and that this move has the support of the British public.” Following Wimbledon’s decision, the ATP and WTA are considering preserving the rankings of the Russian and Belarusian tennis players prevented from competing. Both tours are holding meetings in Madrid to decide the next steps, with the possibility of removing ranking points from Wimbledon also on the table.
