Andy Murray ‘not going to be going nuts’ if Russian and Belarusian players allowed at Wimbledon

Andy Murray has said that he believes Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to play at this summer’s Wimbledon tournament.

Players from the two countries were banned by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) from taking part in the London-based Grand Slam and tour events leading up to it in 2022, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, speaking ahead of his first round match at Indian Wells this year, Murray says he expects the players will be allowed back and has no problem if they are.

“It’s a really difficult one and I do feel for the players who weren’t able to play last year, but I also understand the situation and why it’s really hard for Wimbledon to make a call on it as well,” Murray told the BBC.

The three-time Grand Slam winner hinted he would welcome the previously excluded players back but also understands both sides of the debate around their participation.

“My understanding is that they are going to be allowed to play and I’m not going to be going nuts if that is the case,” he said.

“But if Wimbledon went down another route I would be understanding of that.”

The likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka were all forced to sit out of Wimbledon last summer.

As a result, the LTA received a hefty £1.4 million fine from the ATP and WTA, and no ranking points were awarded from the tournament.

“I want to play Wimbledon. I don’t know what their decision is going to be,” he told Eurosport.

“I’m just going to wait for it and hopefully, I can play Wimbledon this year and show some great results.”