Dolgopolov, Kostyuk, Stakhovsky Blast ATP, WTA Wimbledon Decision


Current and former Ukrainian pros are united in their outrage against the ATP and WTA.

The Tours announced the joint decision to strip Wimbledon of its ranking points on Friday.

More: ATP, WTA Strip Wimbledon of Ranking Points

That decision came in response to The Championships banning Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon in condemnation of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Retired former Ukrainian No. 1 Sergiy Stakhovsky, who famously upset Roger Federer at Wimbledon, ripped the decision as a “shameful day in tennis” in a Twitter post.

“To say that I am disappointed in @atptour would be understatement,” Stakhovsky posed. “Never would expect that anyone can stand on the side of invaders and murderers… but it seems to me that even my fellow players feel sorry for invaders and collaborants from [Russia and Belarus].”

On Friday, the Tours announced the decision to strip Wimbledon of ranking points.

“The decision by Wimbledon to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing in the UK this summer undermines this principle and the integrity of the ATP Ranking system,” the ATP said in a statement. “It is also inconsistent with our Rankings agreement. Absent a change in circumstances, it is with great regret and reluctance that we see no option but to remove ATP Ranking points from Wimbledon for 2022.

“Our rules and agreements exist in order to protect the rights of players as a whole. Unilateral decisions of this nature, if unaddressed, set a damaging precedent for the rest of the Tour. Discrimination by individual tournaments is simply not viable on a Tour that operates in more than 30 countries.”

The WTA quickly followed suit.

Alexandr Dolgopolov, who like Stakhovsky returned to his native Ukraine to fight for his nation against Russian invaders, issued a sarcastic “well done” to the ATP and WTA because, he said, they’ve given Russian propagandists fuel to defend the invasion.

Ukrainian WTA player Marta Kostyuk sarcastically “thanked” the Tours for “being headliners of Russian support and news today.”

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