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The AELTC board has expressed "a deep disappointment" following the ATP, WTA and ITF decision to strip Wimbledon of their ranking status in 2022. Last month, Wimbledon imposed player bans on Russian and Belarusian players.
The ATP and WTA made it clear the same day that they were not supporting the Wimbledon decision. Some of the world's best players, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, were also against the decision Wimbledon made.
A month later, the ATP and WTA sanctioned Wimbledon by removing ranking points from this year's tournament. In late April, AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said the Wimbledon organizers didn't want to Russian and Belarusian players in potential danger by requiring them to sign some kind of anti-Vladimir Putin forms.
The AELTC did their best to explain that they did what was the best but the ATP and WTA think otherwise.
AELTC: We are disappointed with the ATP, WTA and ITF decision
"We were not prepared to take any actions which could risk the personal safety of players, or their families.
We believe that requiring written declarations from individual players – and that would apply to all relevant players – as a condition of entry in the high-profile circumstances of Wimbledon would carry significant scrutiny and risk," the AELTC said in a statement released.
"In addition, we remain unwilling to accept success or participation at Wimbledon being used to benefit the propaganda machine of the Russian regime, which, through its closely controlled State media, has an acknowledged history of using sporting success to support a triumphant narrative to the Russian people.
"We therefore wish to state our deep disappointment at the decisions taken by the ATP, WTA and ITF in removing ranking points for The Championships. We believe these decisions to be disproportionate in the context of the exceptional and extreme circumstances of this situation and the position we found ourselves in, and damaging to all players who compete on Tour."
