LONDON — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former males’s No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will proceed to play on a impartial foundation after the Worldwide Tennis Federation introduced Friday that it might “not change its current place” relating to the bans imposed on Belarus and Russia.
In a political shift on Thursday, the Worldwide Olympic Committee stated Belarusian athletes ought to as soon as once more compete in full nationwide id and never be judged for his or her impartial standing, regardless of the continuing warfare in Ukraine.
“The Worldwide Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC’s announcement doesn’t change its current place relating to the suspensions of the Belarusian and Russian tennis federations, which stay in place,” the ITF stated.
“Membership of the Belarusian Tennis Federation will likely be thought-about by ITF voting member states on the ITF Annual Common Assembly in October,” the worldwide federation added.
Belarusian Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam champion. Russian Medvedev gained the 2021 US Open and is at the moment ranked ninth.
Because the starting of the warfare, Belarusian and Russian tennis gamers have needed to play with out their nation’s identify on them or with out their flags subsequent to their names. Each international locations had been additionally banned from collaborating in Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and different ITF group matches. Tennis occasions all over the world have additionally been cancelled.
