Petra Kvitova has expressed concerns over Wimbledon’s decision to allow tennis players from Russia and Belarus to compete at the prestigious Grand Slam event in 2023, amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In 2022, the All England Club had banned players from Russia and Belarus due to their countries’ involvement in the invasion of Ukraine. However, the ban was overturned on March 31, allowing the players to participate in the tournament once again.
Wimbledon’s Decision to Overturn the Ban
In response to the All England Club removing the ban, the WTA, ATP and ITF stripped Wimbledon of all ranking points throughout the tournament. Petra Kvitova, who reached her 13th WTA 1000 final at the 2023 Miami Open, reiterated her opposition to the war and expressed her concern for the Ukrainian players and people. In a post-match press conference, Kvitova said, “Well, first of all, for sure, I always state like against the war. For sure I’m just more worried about the Ukrainian people and players.”
Petra Kvitova’s Opposition to Russian and Belarusian Players’ Participation
Kvitova appreciated the All England Club’s difficulty in not awarding points to players last year but firmly opposed their latest decision. She stated her belief that Russian and Belarusian players should not be allowed to participate at the Grand Slam or even the Olympics due to the ongoing war conflict. She added, “I appreciate that Wimbledon had a tough time last year not giving the points, that Belarusian and Russian didn’t play. And I think they shouldn’t be allowed, actually, in my opinion, either to Olympics. I’m just still a bit on the Ukrainian side of this.”
Petra Kvitova Gears Up for Miami Open Final
In other news, Petra Kvitova is gearing up to face Elena Rybakina in the 2023 Miami Open final. During the post-match press conference, she praised Rybakina for reaching the Miami final after her title win at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. “As you said, she’s playing very good, winning Indian Wells, returning here in the final. For sure it’s a great achievement,” Kvitova said. She also pointed out the similarities between their playstyles and commented that the outcome of the match would depend on whoever managed the pressure from their opponent better. The two players are currently tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head matches.
