- In an information war, the truth is difficult to discern and motivation hard to assert. A year after that statement, however, and with banned players successfully restored to competition, it feels distinctly like the benefits Wimbledon hoped to deny have ultimately been accrued.
Russians emerge as Wimbledon winners after charm offensive as ‘neutrals’
Russians such as Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva have made an unlikely impact on and off court after last year’s ban
IIt’s been a bounce-back tournament for Wimbledon: the crowds have returned, there’s a buzz around the grounds. The tennis has been engaging too, with the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz as a genuine contender and a series of upsets in the women’s draw. Among all the successes of the 2023 championships there is another, less welcome winner, however, and that’s Russia.
Russian players, alongside those from Belarus, were banned from participating in last year’s tournament after the invasion of Ukraine. This year, after Wimbledon found itself alone and under political and financial pressure, that position was reversed. Players could return as long as they did not compete under a flag and had signed a “personal declaration of neutrality” as part of their terms of entry. By the time the first round started, 18 Russians and Belarusians were in competition.
These neutral athletes have gone on to perform well. Four of them reached the quarter-finals of the singles (plus the Moscow-born Elena Rybakina, the defending women’s champion, who represents Kazakhstan). Two, Daniil Medvedev in the men’s and Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s, progressed to the semi-finals. There remains the prospect that Medvedev, who only 12 months ago was ostracised from SW19, could yet be photographed shaking hands with the Princess of Wales on the way to picking up a trophy.
On-court success extended beyond representation in the later stages. Medvedev has surpassed all his previous efforts on grass but so too did Andrey Rublev, who also served up perhaps the shot of the tournament when he found a winner while practically supine behind the baseline against Alexander Bublik. Roman Safiullin, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Daria Kasatkina, lesser-known Russians, all recorded personal best performances at the home of tennis. Finally, the cherry on top; Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old qualifier who became a 48-hour sensation after knocking out two seeds en route to the fourth round.
Success was extensive on court, then, but not limited to it. In engagements with fans and the media at Wimbledon this year, Russian stars have been charm personified. . ."
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