Wimbledon to lift ban on Russia, Belarus after ATP expulsion threat

The development comes after the Britain’s tennis governing body (LTA) was slapped with a $1 million fine by the ATP for banning Russian and Belarusian male players from this summer’s grass-court events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The LTA issued a strongly-worded statement that accused the ATP of having a “surprising lack of empathy” for the situation in Ukraine and showing “a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances” concerning the decisions it had to make.

The ATP’s sanction followed the fines imposed by the the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on the LTA and the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which organises Wimbledon over ban on players from Russia and Belarus to participate in its events over the summer.