Veronika Kudermetova is sponsored by Tatneft, one of Russia’s oil and gas giants, but the world number 13 has said she can play at Wimbledon if she removes the company’s logo from her equipment, the BBC reports.

Veronika Kudermetova will give up the Tatnaft company symbol during Wimbledon-2023

The 26-year-old Kudermetova, ranked 13th in the WTA rankings, sparked backlash on social media after wearing the Tatneft logo on her chest during her round of 16 match with Daria Kasatkina in Madrid.

Veronica said she has already signed the personal declaration that all Russians and Belarusians who want to take part in any British grassroots event must submit. And he did it with the indication that he will not wear any signs of “Tatnafta”.

“So far I am not breaking any rules. For Wimbledon, yes I know we are not allowed to wear our country badges. I agree with that, but now I can wear this logo” – Veronika Kudermetovaquoted by the BBC.

Last June, the European Union imposed sanctions against Tatnafta, freezing the company’s assets as part of the blockade.

Kudermetova also revealed how she used to be associated with CSKA, the traditional sports club of Russia’s armed forces.

“When I was young, I trained there. This was my tennis club when I was in Moscow, I trained there, but not now. I don’t have a contract with them, I don’t have a salary from them – for now we are separated” – Veronika Kudermetova.

In the quarterfinals of the “WTA 1000” tournament in Madrid on Wednesday, the athlete from Russia will meet the American Jessica Pegula (the 3rd favorite).

The rules for the participation of Russians in Wimbledon-2023 are “easy to bypass”

The All England Club (AELTC) will allow Russians and Belarusians to compete at the London Grand Slam as neutral athletes if they agree not to publicly show their support for the invasion of Ukraine.

In addition, players are prohibited from receiving funding from either state. This includes “sponsorship by state-owned or controlled companies” — but only “in connection with their participation in a Grand Slam.”

The rules are open to interpretation, but it seems easy to get around them by delaying the wrong arrangement for a few weeks into the grass season.

There is nothing in the WTA rules that would prevent Veronika Kudermetova (or any other athlete from Russia) from playing in Madrid or anywhere else on the circuit, while still being sponsored by a Russian company.

But individual tournaments have the right to take a position similar to that of the All England Club and the LTA, and it is understood that the WTA will support them in this case.