The tennis world has had a mixed reaction to the decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Wimbledon tournament.

The All England Club, which runs Wimbledon, said in a statement while it was hard on the players impacted, it is “with sadness that they will suffer for the actions of the leaders of the Russian regime”.

Journalist and tennis commentator Leo Schlink says he was left very surprised, and believes it’s a harsh move to ban the players.

He says criticism of Russian tennis players who remain silent on the invasion of Ukraine in unfounded.

“What are they expected to do? Imperil their own families for the sake of having a political voice?” he told Peter Psaltis filling in on 4BC Drive.

He says he doubts the organisers of the French Open and US Open will follow Wimbledon’s lead.

“I just think this is really unfair, and what Martina Navratilova and Novak Djokovic has had to say, and others, you will find more and more players online here saying this is so unfair on the Russian players, it’s heavy handed and there is no need for it.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about his views

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