Andrey Rublev insists Wimbledon hurt themselves with ban on Russian and Belarusian players

Tennis365 03 Jul 2023 7:05 PM

Andrey Rublev plays a shot at Wimbledon

Andrey Rublev believes Wimbledon was wrong to ban him and his fellow Russians last year and said the only loser was the event itself.

The All England Club this year overturned its controversial decision to not allow players from Russia and Belarus to compete in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

“I think that, I mean, we were talking, and I think we could find the solution,” said world number seven Rublev after becoming the first man into the second round at this year’s Championships.

“Yeah, if we really want to help or do what is better for tennis and for the people, I think obviously there were better options. Not just to ban. Because in the end, (there) was no difference. They did only worse to themselves.

“So in the end, I think that there were options to do much better for everyone.

“Now we are here, I’m really happy to be back and to compete.”

The ATP and WTA tours subsequently stripped Wimbledon 2022 of ranking points in response to the ban.

This year, Russian and Belarusian players have all signed declarations stating they will not express support for either regime and that they are not receiving any direct or indirect government support.

Rublev, 25, recovered from 2-5 down in the second set on his way to beating Australian Max Purcell 6-3 7-5 6-4.

“I am really happy to be back. You always want to win in straight sets, but it is never simple,” Rublev said.

“I was 2-5 down in the second set and I was lucky to be able to come back because in my head I was already preparing for the third set. I hit a few good shots and I was able to come back and I played really well at the end of the second set. To play here with full stadiums at 11am, that is a special feeling.”

His victory set up an all-Russian clash with Aslan Karatsev in the second round.

Having made it to the title match in Halle last month, the 25-year-old Rublev arrived in London in fine shape.

Also on Monday, in his first match of the year on a grass court, fourth seed Casper Ruud defeated French qualifier Laurent Lokoli 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to progress as well.

After two hours and 51 minutes, Ruud, whose best performance at SW19 was a second-round appearance in 2022, struck 35 winners to progress.

British wild card Liam Broady overcame Constant Lestienne 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 to go to the second round for the second consecutive year.

Broady will now face Norwegian Ruud in the second round.