TENNIS
Wimbledon organizers are having conversations with the British government about whether Russian tennis players – such as No. 1-ranked Daniil Medvedev – should be allowed to compete at the tournament this year if they don’t distance themselves from President Vladimir Putin because of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking Tuesday to legislators in London about Wimbledon, British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Absolutely nobody flying the flag for Russia should be allowed. Many of us would be willing and able to (allow them to) compete as non-aligned, non-flag-bearing entities. But I think it needs to go beyond that. We need some potential assurances that they are not supporters of Vladimir Putin and we are considering what requirements we may need to try and get some assurances along those lines.”
Asked by a member of parliament about any back-and-forth with the All England Club, which runs the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, Huddleston replied: “We are in discussions.”
The All England Club confirmed that discussions were ongoing with both U.K. government and tennis governing bodies.
The seven groups that run the sport around the world have condemned the war; canceled events in Russia and Belarus, which helped with the invasion; kicked those two nations out of the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup team competitions; and announced on March 1 that players from those countries will be allowed to compete in WTA, ATP and Grand Slam tournaments but not under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus.
Russia is the reigning champion in both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, but the International Tennis Federation announced Monday that the country would be replaced in the 2022 finals of each by the highest-ranked losing semifinalist in 2021. For the Billie Jean King Cup, that is Australia; for the Davis Cup, it’s Serbia.
Wimbledon’s deadline for player entries is May 16.
The tournament is scheduled to begin main-draw play on June 27.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, which happened to be the day Medvedev was assured of moving atop the ATP rankings for the first time while competing at the Mexico Open.
“Watching the news from home, waking up here in Mexico, was not easy,” Medvedev said then. “By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries; I’ve been in so many countries as a junior and as a pro. It’s just not easy to hear all this news. … I’m all for peace.”
PARIBAS OPEN: Taylor Fritz defeated Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (2) in the third round at Indian Wells, California, making him one of six American men still alive in the tournament.
John Isner beat 14th-seeded Diego Schwartzman, 7-5, 6-3, to reach the fourth round. Another American, Tommy Paul, lost to 29th-seeded Alex de Minaur, 7-6 (2), 6-4.
In women’s fourth-round action, Madison Keys beat British qualifier Harriett Dart, 6-1, 6-4. Keys is the last American woman still in the tournament.
No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek outlasted three-time major champion and former No. 1 player Angelique Kerber, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Simona Halep, the 2015 champion, beat Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-4 and Petra Martic of Croatia beat No. 28 Liudmila Samsonova, 7-6 (6), 6-4. No. 6 Maria Sakkari advanced when qualifier Daria Saville retired trailing 4-1 because of a left thigh injury.
SOCCER
UEFA: The ban on Russian soccer teams from European competition was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A separate ruling on Russia’s World Cup status is expected later this week.
The urgent CAS ruling on the European ban – an interim judgment pending a full appeal hearing in the weeks ahead – applied only to the Russian soccer federation’s legal action against UEFA, the governing body the sport in Europe.
A similar ban by FIFA is part of a separate Russian appeal to CAS. Russia had been scheduled to play Poland on March 24 in the World Cup qualifying playoffs. Last week, FIFA awarded a bye to Poland. The Polish soccer federation and players had said they would refuse to play Russia.
CAS said the Russian appeals to freeze both FIFA decisions – the ban and giving Poland a bye – are “likely to be issued at the end of this week.”
Russian athletes and teams have been banned from dozens of sports since the country invaded Ukraine last month.
CHELSEA: The European Union imposed sanctions on Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich as part of a new package of measures targeting Russia and President Vladimir Putin’s close allies.
The EU included the Russian oligarch in its updated list of individuals facing assets freeze and travel bans over their role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The 55-year-old Abramovich had already been punished in Britain by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government last week. The aluminum magnate was among seven wealthy Russians who had their assets frozen under British sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich has also been suspended as director of the Premier League club.
The EU said Abramovich “has had privileged access to the (Russian) president, and has maintained very good relations with him. This connection with the Russian leader helped him to maintain his considerable wealth.”
VERONA: Hellas Verona was ordered to play its next home match with part of its stands empty following racist chants and anti-territorial insults during a game against Napoli.
The chants directed at Napoli players Kalidou Koulibaly and Victor Osimhen – who are both Black – came during a 2-1 loss for Verona on Sunday. Osimhen scored twice in the game.
The night before the match, Verona supporters put up a banner near the Bentegodi stadium with Naples’ GPS coordinates and the Russian and Ukrainian flags – an apparent suggestion to bomb the southern city.
The banner was signed by the “Curva Sud” – the end of the stadium where Verona’s hard-core “ultra” fans sit – which is now suspended for a game.
Verona fans have been involved in numerous racists incidents and the Serie A judge said the latest infraction did not warrant leniency due to “the gravity of the facts.”
The partial stadium ban will come into effect for Verona’s game against Genoa on April 3. Verona plays at Empoli this weekend.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Darwin Nunez scored late as Benfica defeated Ajax 1-0 at Amsterdam to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in six years and end the Dutch team’s great run in the European competition.
In the other round-of-16 match, Atletico Madrid advanced 2-1 on aggregate after beating Manchester United 1-0 in England.
GOLF
RYDER CUP: Henrik Stenson accepted the job as Ryder Cup captain on Tuesday and pledged his allegiance to Europe and his attention to do everything possible to win back the gold trophy.
Stenson is the first Swede and the fifth player from continental Europe to be captain, chosen by a five-member panel that included three previous captains.
Europe has not lost on home soil since 1993.
The 2023 matches will be at Marco Simone in Italy, and Europe faces a tough task. The Americans are coming off the largest rout ever over Europe, 19-9 at Whistling Straits, behind a team that had youth, talent, hunger and a little attitude.
Zach Johnson will be the U.S. captain.
SWIMMING
SWISS THREATEN BOYCOTT: The Swiss swimming federation has threatened to boycott this year’s world championships if the sport’s governing body allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.
FINA, the Switzerland-based body that governs swimming, has so far been reluctant to ban Russian athletes following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The body instead decided they can compete at the worlds in Budapest, Hungary, without their national flag. Belarus, an ally of Russia, has also had its athletes and teams sanctioned in the same way.
Swiss Aquatics said Tuesday it was “currently not appropriate” to take part in the two-week event in June even if athletes from Russia and Belarus compete under a neutral flag. The Swiss team cited “safety and fairness” for athletes.
On Tuesday, Russia lost an appeal against its ban from European soccer. FINA, however, said last week it “remained opposed to a blanket ban of all athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus.”
The policy was supported by “an overwhelming majority” of the body’s athletes’ commission, said FINA, which pledged to review “concerns about the safety of athletes and the viability of events” on a case-by-case basis.
SLED DOG RACING
IDITAROD: Musher Brent Sass won the arduous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska on Tuesday as his team of 11 dogs dashed off the Bering Sea ice through a crowd of fans in downtown Nome.
Sass mushed down Front Street and across the finish line just before 6 a.m.
“It’s awesome, it’s a dream come true,” Sass said with his beard and mustache partially encrusted in ice during the post-race interview before he was presented a prize-winning check of $50,000.
Sass said he was “super, super, super proud” of his dog team. “It’s all on them. They did an excellent job the whole race. I asked a lot of them, and they preformed perfectly,” he said.
”Every one of these dogs I’ve raised since puppies, and we’ve been working towards this goal the whole time, and we’re here,” he added, his voice cracking. “It’s crazy.”
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