Unlike Wimbledon Championship 2022, US Open Comes up With a Peaceful Gesture for Tennis Community

The Russian and the Belarusian tennis players have been undergoing a tough phase. Apart from receiving criticism, they have also been banned from playing at Wimbledon 2022. With The Championships barring these players, the tennis world had its eyes on the US Open.

Unlike Wimbledon, the USTA has allowed Russian and Belarusian players to compete at this year’s US Open. On June 14, the governing body of the US Open took to its social media handles and published the much-awaited press release. The announcement came as a sigh of relief for players such as the defending champion, Daniil Medvedev.

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US Open gives a green signal to Russian and Belarusian tennis players

In the statement, the United States Tennis Association permitted the players to compete. However, maintaining its stand of condemning the ongoing crisis, the operating body of the American Grand Slam also announced that these players would play under a neutral flag.

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“The USTA will allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2022 US Open, but only under a neutral flag. Alongside the other Grand Slams, the ITF, the ATP and the WTA, the USTA, which owns and operates the US Open, has previously condemned, and continues to condemn, the unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia,” the statement read.

Going back in time, the crisis reportedly started towards the end of February. While the Australian Open escaped the fierce decision-making phase, it was the other governing bodies of the sport that had a tough time. With the crisis in place, it was the ATP, WTA, ITF, French Open, and the Wimbledon who underwent the decision-making phase.

“We recognize that each organization has had to deal with unique circumstances that affect their decisions. Based on our own circumstances, the USTA will allow all eligible players, regardless of nationality, to compete at the 2022 US Open,” the release further stated.

Along with allowing the Russian and Belarusian players to compete, USTA also guided its way to the humanitarian efforts of the tennis world. Ending the press release, USTA said, “The USTA will work with the players and both Tours to use the US Open as a platform to further the humanitarian effort of the “Tennis Plays for Peace” program.”  

What do you make of this decision?