United States Tennis Association (USTA) have raised the hopes of Russian and Belarusian tennis players to partake in the US Open taking place later this year.
With the pronouncement by USTA, world number one and defending champion Danii Medvedev will have the opportunity to defend his title in New York.
According to the statement, the players from these countries (Russia & Belarus) that have been banned by International Tennis Federation (ITF) will take part in the event as independent participants under a neutral flag.
USTA recalled that the tennis institution had previously, like every other tennis governing bodies, condemned the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Trumpet Gathered
The statement reads: “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.
Read Also: The Legislature in Nigeria since 1999
“The USTA, standing with these other tennis entities, supported the banning of the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations from the ITF, and therefore all international team competitions, and the directive for players from those countries to play under a neutral flag when competing outside of international team competitions.
“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 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.
“In addition, the USTA will introduce a broad, comprehensive set of initiatives to amplify existing Ukrainian humanitarian efforts, including committing to significant financial support, for which details will be announced soon,” it stated.
However, the USTA decision runs contrary to Wimbledon’s which barred athletes from Russia and Belarus from partaking in the tournament scheduled for June 27, 2022.
Click on The Trumpet and follow us on our Twitter page for more:
