Dylan Bettencourt
The US Open is set to allow players from both Russia and Belarus to compete in the year’s final Grand Slam.
US Tennis Association CEO Lew Sherr told Associated Press that the US Open will not ban players from the two regions due to “concern about holding the individual athletes accountable for the actions and decisions of their governments”.
He said the players are not a reflection of their governments’ work.
“There are arguments on both sides. Are you being perceived as supporting atrocious acts by a government? And at the same time: Would you hold an individual athlete accountable for that?”
Sherr did confirm that the athletes will compete under neutral flags at Flushing Meadows later this year.
Tennis players from both nations have been banned from competing at Wimbledon in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion in Ukraine, unless they meet a set of requirements.
The British event, set to begin later this month, requested that all Russian and Belarus players write a letter denouncing the invasion in order to compete.
But as the players from the region remain banned, Wimbledon will not have ranking points involved in the tournament – meaning players’ rankings will not be affected by results.
The US Open is set to begin on 29 August in New York as the final Grand Slam of the year.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam this year that has implemented a ban on Russian and Belarus players.
World number one Daniil Medvedev is not eligible to compete in England but will retain his spot at the top due to the lack of ranking points.
The lack of ranking points drew criticism from all avenues, including players like Naomi Osaka, who threatened to pull out of Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic also said the tournament was a “lose-lose” situation as certain players cannot compete and the results do not add to their points. Meaning all there is to gain is a trophy and the money that comes along with it.
Image source: @TheNewYorke
