Google News Todd Woodbridge: Denouncing Putin could put Daniil Medvedev's family in danger
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 6300
Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge says denouncing Vladimir Putin will never be an easy thing for Daniil Medvedev or any Russian players since the players are aware that it could put their families in danger. The latest reports coming out from Great Britain indicate that Medvedev and the rest of Russian players will only be allowed to compete at Wimbledon if they publicly denounce Putin and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The leading Russian players - Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - have all publicly called for peace. However, some British politicians feel Russian players should do more before they are allowed to compete at Wimbledon.
"That is such slippery and dangerous ground," Woodbridge told Nine's Sports Sunday. "We all know they have families back in whatever part of Russia they are from, and you do not want to be on the wrong side of that, because your family will pay a price.
"This is really dangerous territory, and one that we have to be very sensitive about."
Woodbridge: Let Russian players compete in international events
The governing bodies of tennis have banned Russia and Belarus from competing in team events such as the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King.
Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to continue competing in international events but they do not compete under the name or flag of their respective countries. "It's an individual sport. I feel at this point we allow them to play," Woodbridge said.
"(Fellow Russian player) Andre Rublev this week made it through to a semi final. It's really hard if we go down that line. "Teams are different, that is national representation. Individuals are different. "A lot of them don't live in that country...
as an example, for 11 years of my career I lived in the United States. "I feel it has to be let's see what happens over the coming months, and then we'll be able to make a better decision."
