Russian, Belarusian players barred from Wimbledon

Tennis players from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete at this year's Wimbledon due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the Grand Slam's organisers All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the AELTC said it was in talks with the British government on the participation of players from Russia and Belarus in the grasscourt Grand Slam.

Ian Hewitt, chairman of the AELTC, said in a statement they had "carefully considered" alternative measures that might be taken within the UK Government guidance, "but given the high profile environment of The Championships...and our broader concerns for public and player (including family) safety, we do not believe it is viable to proceed on any other basis."

The organisers had earlier planned to announce a decision in mid-May before the entry deadline for the June 27-July 10 event.

A ban on Russian players prevents world number two Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, ranked eighth, from competing in the men's draw. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is 15th in the women's rankings.

Women's world number four Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus will be affected.

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev told the country's Sport Express newspaper that there was nothing it could do.