Wimbledon 2022 landed in controversy even before the start of the tournament. In the wake of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the organizers of the grass-court Grand Slam banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing.

The decision did not go well with the tennis governing bodies ATP and WTA. Both organizations stripped Wimbledon of ranking points. However, the organizers still went forward with the tournament. There were many prominent voices against the decision of ban, especially from the Russian players. One of them was the current world number 8 Andrey Rublev.

The Russian desperately wanted to play in the tournament and even tried to negotiate for it.

Andrey Rublev offered to play mixed doubles with a Ukrainian partner

In a YouTube documentary, Andrey Rublev revealed his offer to play in the Wimbledon Championship. World number 8 wanted to partner with a Ukrainian tennis player for participating in the mixed doubles.

“We offered some solutions that could be really helpful diplomatically – playing in mixed doubles with a Ukrainian player, not coming for the medals,” he said.

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Further, Rublev explained the message he wanted to portray, “We wanted to use the platform of a championship to show that we don’t fight here. That there’s no war in tennis. It’s most important now. As a tennis player, I could deliver the right message from the court.”

“I was frustrated. Everything I earn, I invest in my career, and then I’m forbidden from doing my work. It is upsetting for sure,” he added.

However, the idea was denied by the organizers.

Read more: ‘We Are Not Here to Talk About Politics’ – Andrey Rublev Reveals About the Conversation the Russian Players Had With Wimbledon

“I kept getting the same answer: Russian government is going to use our results for propaganda. So whatever I’d say, the reply was and is the same. I couldn’t understand why they would say so,” Rublev concluded.

US Open to allow Russian and Belarusian players

Unlike the Wimbledon Championships 2022, players from Russia and Belarus can play in the last Grand Slam of the year. This means Rublev as well as the world number 1 Daniil Medvedev will feature in the tournament.

Notably, Medvedev is also the defending champion of the tournament.

Watch this story: Rafael Nadal’s biggest fan, Serena Williams, cheers for his success at Wimbledon Championships 2022

However, the players will not be allowed to carry their national flag and will play under the neutral flag.