Players from Russia and Belarus have been banned from Wimbledon 2022, but the organizers of the London tournament are forced to agree to their return for the tournament in 2023. John McEnroe, the seven-time winner of the Grand Slam, insisted on this last.

John McEnroe urges players from Russia and Belarus to return to Wimbledon

“Obviously, war is a terrible situation, and people react to it differently. Last year I did not agree with the fact that players from Russia and Belarus were not allowed at Wimbledon.

This year I wouldn’t agree either. I don’t know what they are going to do. This is a situation that no one wants. So hopefully something will change so players can play.

It so happened that some of the best players in our sport come from these two countries. I don’t think they should be punished for something they have nothing to do with” – John McEnroe at the Eurosport event, Tennis365 reports.

The decision, made last year by All England Club officials, was not well received by tennis chiefs, and the ATP and WTA did not award points at Wimbledon. In addition, the British Tennis Federation was fined £820,000 and threatened that it could lose its membership of the ATP if it did the same in 2023.