World No.1 Djokovic keen to defend title in London despite event being stripped off ranking points
Novak Djokovic during his Round 1 match on Monday. Pic/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic said on Monday he “intends to go to Wimbledon” to defend his title despite the controversy over the tournament being stripped of ranking points.
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“Yes, I intend to go to Wimbledon,” said Djokovic after overcoming Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the French Open first round. However, he added that the initial decision of the tournament to ban Russian and Belarusian players following the invasion of Ukraine was a “mistake”.
A loss of 2,000 points
Djokovic, 35, stands to lose 2,000 points due to the decision by the ATP and WTA tours to remove ranking points from Wimbledon in response to the player ban. “On a personal, individual level, I have been very negatively affected,” said Djokovic. He has already lost 2,000 points by not being able to defend his Australian Open title.
“Collectively I’m glad that players got together with the ATP and showed to the Grand Slam that when there is a mistake happening, and there was from the Wimbledon side, then we have to show that there is going to be some consequences.”
Other solutions available
Djokovic believes there were other solutions available to Wimbledon which would have been less drastic than an outright ban. “A few days ago I found out that there was a document of recommendation from the British government towards the All England Club and where they had several options,” said Djokovic.
“There was not only
one on the table. They haven’t discussed it with anybody from ATP or any individual players or for that matter Russian or Belarusian players to just communicate and understand whether there is common ground where both sides could be making a compromise and something could work out.
‘It’ s a lose-lose situation’
“So I think it was a wrong decision. I don’t support that at all. It’s a lose-lose situation for everyone.”
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