Novak Djokovic calls Wimbledon ban on Russian, Belarusian players 'crazy'
Novak Djokovic does not support Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from competing, calling the move "crazy."
"I will never support war because as a child of war I know how much emotional trauma it inflicts," the No. 1 ranked men's player from Serbia told reporters Wednesday at a Serbia Open event. "But I cannot support Wimbledon's decision. It is crazy."
The defending men's singles champions grew up in Belgrade, Serbia during the war in the 1990s.
The ban, announced Wednesday by the All England Club, impacts many highly-ranked players, including No. 2 Daniil Medvedev (Russia) and No. 8 Andrey Rublev (Russia) in the men's field and No. 15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) in the women's field. No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) and No. 18 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) would also be among those excluded in the women's field.
Banning Russian players, including No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, from Wimbledon makes no sense
TENNIS GREAT: Pam Shriver says she had 'inappropriate' relationship with coach Don Candy as a teenager
"Given the profile of The Championships in the United Kingdom and around the world, it is our responsibility to play our part in the widespread efforts of Government, industry, sporting and creative institutions to limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible," the official announcement said.
The ban will make Wimbledon the first tennis event to bar individual athletes from competing. Wimbledon is scheduled to start June 27.
Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Novak Djokovic calls Wimbledon ban on Russian players 'crazy'
