Removing points at Wimbledon is a true display of stupidity
If anyone is playing Wimbledon just to get points in the computer rankings, if that really motivates them then they’re playing the wrong sport and with the wrong attitude.
I find it confusing that Naomi Osaka or any other player in the draw would describe the championship at Wimbledon as a show event.
Some in the media have also fallen squarely into this trap, joining some players in what I believe to be a dirty self-preservation game motivated by self-interest.
If you only say what your editor wants to hear, then you are compromised as a journalist. If you’re just playing to climb a few spots in the leaderboard, chances are you’re not enjoying your career.
The decision by the governing bodies of the ATP, WTA and ITF to withdraw Wimbledon ranking points in response to the tournament banning Russian and Belarusian players is short-sighted and should be condemned by any observer who can see life and death outside of yours Bladder.
Wimbledon is not perfect – and I speak only for myself, although I am a member of the club – but in this case a moral and principled stance was taken in the face of unspeakable cruelty and military aggression.
It is shameful that ATP and WTA should only look to the end of their noses. They speak in awe of the integrity of their ranking system as the bodies of men, women and children are exhumed from shallow graves.
They speak of injustice to well-rewarded and acclaimed sports celebrities, while the Russian President deports innocent civilians from their homes in scenes eerily reminiscent of the Holocaust.
Beyond watery words, where is there evidence of real action being taken against a barbaric regime that threatens us all?
Why do the ATP and WTA think companies like Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Apple, McDonalds and M&S have all gone out of business in Russia?
It is certainly about conveying to the Russian people the message of the horror being committed in their name.
Mr Putin wants sporting success, otherwise why would he have spent $50 billion hosting the Sochi Winter Olympics? You can pull out the flag behind the names of Russian and Belarusian players, but they remain representatives of those nations.
And think of the sports that have banned Russian teams and individuals. Ice skating, skiing, athletics, hockey, volleyball, basketball and soccer have all followed the IOC’s advice that no Russians or representative teams should participate in international competitions.
No doubt this is unfair and discriminatory towards individual athletes, but the most pressing priority now is to act as one in the face of an existential threat.
As a former member of the ATP Players Council and as a former ATP player I am shocked at how they have not accurately presented their membership.
Can the players’ councils on the men’s or women’s side say they really got their voters’ opinions? It seems to me that they have not done so on this critical issue.
Could one of those people who caused significant division in the game end up looking our Ukrainian houseguest Iulia in the eye and saying that they played their part in wiping out their country and murdering friends and acquaintances?
Maybe we should ask someone in Mariupol or Kharkiv or in the Kiev suburb of Bucha or anyone in the Donbass region if they don’t give a damn about ranking points for a tennis tournament.
As for the ITF, how proud do you think they should be of themselves for taking ranking points away from wheelchair users and also from juniors? It’s incredible.
On top of that, Novak Djokovic, who sits on the players’ council and believes the points decision is correct and justifiable, could successfully defend his Wimbledon title but lose the 2,000 points he won a year earlier, and as a result see Russian Daniil Medvedev number 1 in the world without hitting a ball.
The whole situation is absurd. And here’s a question for you: What other effects will the point deduction have at Wimbledon?
Will any player who loses two sets in a best-of-five contest fight like his life is at stake? Will they sacrifice their bodies and push themselves to the limit to earn more money and crack the title? I really don’t know if they will all be in the early rounds.
On the other hand, they certainly will as the tournament progresses Andy Murray was spot on with what he said in heartfelt contradiction to Osaka’s comments – Wimbledon is not an exhibition event and never will be.
The sick Evans goes to the exit
Dan Evans failed to join Cameron Norrie in the third round of the French Open, the British No. 2 looked really upset in Paris last night as he fell to a 6-3 3-6 6-2 6- . 3 loss to Swedish number 95 Mikael Ymer.
Evans, the 29th seedling, had the doctor on court after the third set and afterwards said he had been suffering from a chest infection for a week.
Although Ymer fought back well to level the match, he ended up being a fairly comfortable winner.
Reasons to be optimistic about Emma despite French lessons
The international education of Emma Raducanu continues after the Brit lost to world No. 47 Aliaksandra Sasnovich from Belarus in three sets at the French Open.
Raducanu’s opening set performance was as good as it had been since winning the US Open last September.
You world number 12. could sink after Wimbledon and it will hurt her especially if she then loses early when defending her title in New York.
Raducanu will have a goal on her back and will play earlier in tournaments against higher-ranked players, but give her time, she’ll be fine – although who knows if she’ll ever win another Grand Slam or not.
MORE: Andy Murray responds to Naomi Osaka over Wimbledon comments on ‘exhibition’
MORE: John McEnroe slams Emma Raducanu’s ‘incredible’ decision after French Open elimination and says British tennis star looks ‘overwhelmed’
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https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/27/removal-of-points-at-wimbledon-is-a-true-exhibition-of-rank-stupidity-16720639/ Removing points at Wimbledon is a true display of stupidity