Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov believes Russian Tennis players should be banned
'Letting them [Russian players] play just by saying a few words that they are against war is not enough,' Ukraine's Alexandr
ENGLAND: Former Ukrainian tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov believes that Russian players should be banned from tennis until there is a war in Ukraine — as he believes that allowing them by just saying a few words against the war is simply not enough.
Alexandr told BBC Sport that — allowing Russia's tennis star Daniil Medvedev to continue playing as neutrals and removing their flag isn't changing anything.
"Letting them play just by saying a few words that they are against war, I don't believe this is enough," he said.
Though Russia and Belarus have been suspended from international tennis team competitions — but International Tennis Federation (ITF) and both the ATP and WTA tours have allowed players from both countries to continue competing as neutral individuals.
However, Alexander says he is disappointed by the stance being taken by tennis authorities.
"I think every Russian is responsible for their government and their president. Just being neutral, taking away their flag, we know that is not changing anything. I already said to them that I think tennis is being too passive," he stressed.
"I think it is not enough to say 'we are against war'. We hear 'we're against war' everywhere, in Miss Universe, in the Oscars. Yeah, that's great, but they don't ask the children or the women here any questions. Going to a place like this you would like to understand how a gun works," Alexander elaborated.
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