Google News Novak Djokovic's ex-coach slams talks of potential Wimbledon ban for Daniil Medvedev
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 6127
Novak Djokovic's former coach Nikola Pilic has slammed the suggestions of a potential Wimbledon ban for Russian players, calling it an "exaggeration." UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston suggested that Medvedev and the rest of Russian players should be required to publicly denounce Russian president Vladimir Putin before they are allowed to compete at Wimbledon.
“It’s just a shame,” Pilic told Serbian outlet Kurir. “Did they do something similar when the Americans entered Iraq and killed over a million civilians there? “Did they ban their tennis players from playing? They are exaggerating in any sense”.
After the Miami Masters, Medvedev underwent a sports hernia surgery. “When you haven't played for a month, you need so much time after the operation and even more to come back... We've seen now with Nole, how it goes,” Pilic said.
Medvedev facing a Wimbledon ban
A source close to the The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club recently explained to The Telegraph how easy it would be for the club's private members to ban Russian players from competing at The Championships.
"Private member clubs have more freedom as to who to allow in or not, so they wouldn’t be subject to the same discrimination laws as the [ATP or WTA] tours," a source who worked closely with the AELTC told The Telegraph.
“If you are running the main tennis tour, you have the freedom to ban players – if they have been found guilty of match-fixing or doping, for instance – but you have to be able to show that this course of action is reasonable.
“In this instance, if the tours took strong action, Russians players could argue that they are being prevented from making a living through no fault of their own. That is not so much of an issue for Wimbledon, however."