"Mentally it is very tough"- Elina Svitolina thinks it's not "fair" to reverse the Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players

Ukrainian tennis sensation Elina Svitolina recently commented on the reversal of the ban on Russian and Belarusian players at Wimbledon. She said it was not "fair" whatsoever.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the Grand Slam tournament decided to prohibit all Russian and Belarusian players from competing. However, following widespread condemnation, the All England Club lifted its ban.

The decision is subject to strict conditions. Players will have to compete under a neutral flag and are aware that they will be disqualified from the competition if they show any support for Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Wimbledon will allow Russian players to play under a neutral flag (File Photo)

Following this, in a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Elina Svitolina stated that Wimbledon's decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players from competing was "right." She also doesn't think that it is "fair play" to reverse it.

"It’s not supposed to be like this in my opinion. What Wimbledon did last year (banning players from Russia and Belarus) was the right decision," Svitolina said.

"If that has been changed this year, it’s very sad because the war is still terrible. The Russian army is still killing a lot of innocent people. It is not fair play," she added.

The Ukrainian went on to say that it's "tough" for her to be in the same locker room as players who may be secretly supporting the war. She pointed out that majority of these players haven't issued a "clear statement" on the matter.

"Mentally, it is very tough knowing that maybe there are some players with you in the locker room who are supporting the war. As most of them have not come out with a clear statement, you never know what they are really thinking," Svitolina said.

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"It’s pretty much only tennis that is allowing them in and I don’t know why" - Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina pictured at the 2022 BNP Paribas Open - Day 5.

Elina Svitolina stated that the war has brought Ukrainian players closer than ever before. She also stated that they all agreed that it's "unfair" that Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to compete. Also, she has no idea why tennis is allowing it to happen, unlike other sports.

"The war has brought the Ukrainian players closer. And we are all agreed that this is not fair for us that they (those from Russia and Belarus) just carry on," Svitolina said.

"Other sports, Olympic sports, are not allowing Russian athletes to compete. It’s pretty much only tennis that is allowing them in and I don’t know why it is like this," she added.

Svitolina, who last appeared on the WTA tour almost a year ago at the Miami Open, plans to return in the summer of 2023.