ATP fines Lawn Tennis Association for banning Russian and Belarusian players

The ATP fined Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) 820,000 ($1 million) on Wednesday for banning male players from Russia and Belarus from playing on its grass courts this summer.

British tennis’ governing body banned players from five Wimbledon warm-up tournaments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wimbledon became the first Grand Slam tournament to ban individual competitors from both countries – a move condemned on the men’s and women’s tours.

The ATP, which oversees men’s tennis outside the Grand Slam tournament, also warned the LTA that it could lose its membership in the organization if it repeated the ban.

“We stand by our original position in this matter that unilateral decision-making by members of the ATP Tour threatens our ability to function as a global sport,” the ATP said in a statement. “We believe the measures taken protect the long-term future of our game and its commitment to merit-based participation of individual athletes without discrimination. We have no further comment.”

LTA, in a opinionsaid he was “deeply disappointed” with the tour’s performance.

“In its findings, the ATP has failed to demonstrate recognition of the exceptional circumstances created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the response of the international sporting community and the UK government to this invasion,” the LTA’s statement said.

“The ATP appears to view this matter as a direct breach of its rules – a surprising lack of empathy for the situation in Ukraine and a clear lack of understanding of the unique circumstances facing the LTA,” it added.

The All England Club banned Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the Wimbledon tournament earlier this year as well. The Wimbledon organizers made the decision after considering the instructions of the British government.

On Wednesday, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, criticized the British government for “meddling”.

The ATP’s action follows a total of $1 million in fines handed down by the LTA and the All England Club to the WTA women’s professional tennis tour. Both bodies have appealed the fines.

The ATP said in April that Wimbledon’s “unilateral decision” to exclude players from Russia and Belarus was unfair and could set a damaging precedent for the game.

British Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said on Wednesday that the majority of the international sports community has stood “shoulder to shoulder” in condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The UK has taken a world-leading role in building this international response,” Donelan said. “We are clear that sport cannot be used to legitimize this deadly attack and that athletes representing the states of Russia or Belarus should be banned from competing in other countries.

“Despite widespread condemnation, the international tennis tours have chosen to be sidelined here, with the result that investment in the growth of our domestic game is hindered. This is the wrong move by the ATP and WTA. I urge them to carefully consider the message this sends and reconsider.”

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.