Andy Murray said he expects Wimbledon organizers to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete in the Grand Slam this year after being banned from Ukraine in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion. The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) banned players from the two countries from competing on the grass court major in response to what Russia described as a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Belarus was an important base for the invasion.

The AELTC said banning players from the two countries was the only viable option under the guidance of the UK government, but the move resulted in Wimbledon having its ranking points stripped from the men’s ATP and women’s WTA. “It’s really difficult and I feel for the players who couldn’t play last year. But I also understand the situation and why it’s really hard for Wimbledon to embrace that too,” Murray told BBC Sport.

“My understanding is that they are allowed to play and I will not go mad if that is the case. “But if Wimbledon went a different route, I would understand that.”

Murray received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award last year in recognition of his support for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine after the former world number one donated more than $630,000 in prize money he won in 2022. The Brit had said last year he had spoken to some of the Russian players and didn’t think they agreed with what was happening in Ukraine.

This year’s Wimbledon Championships will take place from July 3rd to 16th.

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