The Russian and Belarusian tennis players excluded from Wimbledon 2022, scheduled from 27 June to 10 July. The red card is linked to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The measure, anticipated by the BBC, will prevent in particular the Russian Daniil Medvedev – number 2 in the world – and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka – number 4 in the ranking – from taking to the field at the All England Club. The exclusion will also concern Anastasia in the women’s field Pavlyuchenkova (number 15) and the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (18). Among the men, Andrey Rublev (8) and Karen Khachanov (26) are also out. The decision is described as “unacceptable” by the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. “Once again, the athletes are made hostages of political prejudices, of political intrigues, of hostile actions against our country”, added Peskov, underlining that, given the quality of Russian tennis players, the Wimbledon tournament itself will lose. Players from Russia and Belarus are currently eligible to participate in ATP and WTA tournaments but cannot compete under their respective national flags. Russian and Belarusian tennis players will be able to take the field at Roland Garros, the second round of the Grand Slam of the season scheduled for May in Paris.