Rybakina supports Wimbledon’s Russia ban reversal

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said the grasscourt Grand Slam had taken the correct decision to reverse its ban on Russian and Belarusian players and allow them to compete at this year's tournament as "neutral" athletes.

Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam to ban competitors from Russia and Belarus last year after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and players competed as individual athletes without national affiliation at the other majors and the tours.

Russian-born Rybakina, who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018, said that she had no problem with Russian and Belarusian players competing without their national flags.

"They have been playing like this for all the tournaments, so it (Wimbledon) was only Grand Slam they were not allowed," Rybakina told reporters. "So I think that's the way that they are playing, without any flags. I think it's the right decision, I guess."

Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who stunned world number seven Rybakina 7-6(14) 6-2 in the Miami Open final on Saturday, had opposed the Grand Slam's decision.

Kvitova added that athletes from Russia and Belarus should also not be allowed to compete at next year's Paris Olympics.