As noted at the end of the annual Tennis thread last year, I was retiring the concept because of the absence of Susan Doris, the number one fan of my maunderings on the sport. I will, however, make comments as in the thread filled with awe at Andy Murray and his metal hip last week.
This is not so much about the sport but about politics. In the women's semi finals in Australia we have 2 Belorussians, thouh Azarenka looks like going out, and 1 Kazakhstan player, Rybakina, who was Russian but switched in 2018. In the men's semi finals there is Khachanov from Russia. During the championships there have been seen as being issues with those who have had Russian and Belorussian flags so that they are now banned.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/64400517Also there is an issue raised, that Djokovic's father has been photographed celebrating with Russians with flags and tshirts supporting Putin and the war.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/64409618This seems to be something we will likely see highlighted at the other slams.
Wimbledon, of course, last year was the odd slam out in banning Russian and Belorussian players, which lead to no points being awarded by the ATP or the WTA. There's significant pressure on them to drop that rule this year, and whike last year the players seemed to accept that in the run up to it, there was more complaint following it from those who had done well. The person worst served by it was Rybakina who win the women's title. That she was only allowed to play because of that switch in 2018, motivated by offers of financial support rather than being anti Rusdian, added to the irony as Russia still claimed that a Russian won at Wimbledon.
I can see a major rebellion this year by players who might think that their game suits grass. In addition, it would seem possible that their cause might be taken up by Djokovic, who is still unable to play in the US tournaments because of being non vaccinated. If that does happen, I can see a number of Russian and Belorussian players taking Djokovic's side and arguing that the US should drop their vaccine demands.
ETA Rybakina beats Azarenka
