Novak Djokovic news: Russian chess champion condemns Serb’s stance on Wimbledon ban

Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic talks to the media in Dubai

Novak Djokovic has been vocal in his view that he’s against the decision of Russian and Belarussian players not being able to play in this year’s Wimbledon Championships, but now he’s being challenged on this stance.

The 20 time Grand Slam champion called the decision discriminatory and he touched upon his own war experiences by growing up in Serbia.

Russian World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov responded to these comments and accused the 34-year-old of being “inappropriate.”

“Russia may play by ranking, but they kill by nationality,” Kasparov wrote.

“Russian athletes who do not condemn Putin’s war of extermination in Ukraine are supporting it with silence.

“And a Serb failing to do so is especially inappropriate considering history.”

These comments are a direct response to Djokovic’s view in which he doesn’t think politics should mix with sport and Russian and Belarussian players should be allowed to play.

“I will always be the first one to condemn war, as a child of war I know what kind of emotional trauma a war leaves, us in Serbia we know what was happening here in 1999,” the nine time Australian Open champion explained to reporters in Belgrade.

“Ordinary people always suffer, we’ve had lots of wars in the Balkans, that being said I cannot support the Wimbledon decision.

“It’s not the athletes fault – when politics interferes with sport it usually doesn’t turn out well – I personally believe there’s no need to suspend Russian players.”

The ban on Russian and Belarussian players might not just stop at Wimbledon and British tournaments as the Italian government are trying to influence the organisers of the Italian Open to introduce a ban on players from these countries from the competition.

The Wimbledon Championships get underway from June 27, while the Italian Open kicks off from May 2 in the capital city of Rome.

Novak Djokovic

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