Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton yesterday said that she was relieved the world’s top stars had showed up at the Grand Slam even though no ranking points would be on offer.
Both the ATP and WTA removed the points after the All England Club banned Russian and Belarusian players in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
It means players such as US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka cannot play in London.
Photo: AFP
Bolton, who said the decision to ban the players had been “incredibly difficult,” reiterated that Wimbledon organizers were disappointed with the decision.
“We thought it was a disproportionate decision in the context of the situation we found ourselves in and in the context of the global situation,” she said before the start of play on the first day. “And of course it punishes all the players, so we felt it was disproportionate and I think the quality of the field we have playing in the Championships speaks for itself.”
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka, who last month pulled out of Wimbledon with an Achilles injury, had said previously that she could skip it over the decision to remove ranking points, but two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said it would “never feel like an exhibition” despite the absence of points.
Bolton said that she expected record crowds for the Championships this year, with the tournament switching to a policy of playing on the middle Sunday.
“The history of why we didn’t used to play on middle Sunday was about the courts needing a rest, but as grass-court technology, care and attention has improved over many years we arrived at a place where we believe the courts ... could withstand 14 days, and so we’re very confident it can and we’re really excited about adding the extra day, but particularly the extra day on a Sunday when we think about available audiences,” she said.
Bolton also welcomed back Wimbledon’s traditional lines of people waiting to buy tickets, which did not take place during last year’s event due to COVID-19.
“Hugely significant and actually the fact that we didn’t have it last year I think really emphasized to everybody the significance and importance of it,” she said. “It was hugely missed. The reason why the queue is important is not because we think people enjoy queueing particularly in the UK, although traditionally everyone assumes the Brits like queueing, but it’s really about accessibility.”
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
RSS