Rafael Nadal: It's my job to defend Russians banned from Wimbledon

A defiant Rafael Nadal proclaimed it was his “job” to defend banned Russian and Belarusian players after the ATP Player Council called for Wimbledon to be stripped of ranking points.

The record 21-time grand slam champion’s intervention comes amid an increasingly-toxic row between players, the All England Club and politicians over the decision to ban Russians and Belarusians from this summer’s Wimbledon, in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Nadal, who last week said it was “unfair” to bar the likes of Daniil Medvedev, refused to disclose details of “private conversations” between him and his colleagues or reveal whether he backed stripping Wimbledon of ranking points.

But he added: “[The] only thing we can do is be in touch with Wimbledon and the rest of the ATP management to do the things that work better to protect every single player in the ATP.

“At the end, that’s our job: to protect the players and to work [to] the benefit of every single player that we are representing.”

Nadal resisted pressure to “come clean” about what part he and Roger Federer played in the ATP Player Council reaching a position on the Wimbledon ban, one which the All England Club views as a clear attempt to penalise it for its stance.

Indeed, the player council could have instead called for Russian and Belarusian players’ points to have been frozen in the same way as if they were injured.

Chris Bryant MP, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia, said: “Federer and Nadal should come clean. Do they want Vladimir Putin to fail or don’t they care?”

Recommendations by the 10-strong player council are not binding on the ATP, which condemned the Wimbledon ban when it was imposed last month.

But insiders feel its board has little choice but to take their advice on this issue during meetings this week, when a vote could take place.

Bryant added: “The men’s tour are behaving appallingly. It’s like they haven’t heard what is happening in Ukraine or don’t care.”

Clive Efford MP, a leading member of the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee and a former shadow sports minister, said: “The ATP needs to take a look around and appreciate how the rest of the world outside its bubble will view it for sanctioning Wimbledon for supporting Ukraine.”

A source with knowledge of the player council’s position said it had been made with the “integrity of the rankings” in mind but was unable to explain how stripping Wimbledon and the UK’s other grass court tournaments of ranking points better achieved that than a freeze.

Nadal also refused to be drawn into a debate on the issue, saying: "When things like this happen, nothing will be perfect.”

Another source with knowledge of the crisis talks between the All England Club and the ATP questioned the motives behind what appears an act of self-harm by players.

“This feels like penalising the many for the sake of the few, just to make a point,” said the source, who warned the All England Club had no intention of lifting the ban.

Wimbledon bosses suffered a blow last week when Sir Andy Murray, himself a member of the ATP Player Council until recently, refused to back its stance, saying: “I don’t support one side or the other.”

A representative of Murray said he would not be commenting further on Wednesday.

Wimbledon is not the only UK tournament which is set to lose its ranking points, with the cinch Championships at Queen’s Club or the Rothesay International at Eastbourne also in the firing line.

While Wimbledon's prestige ensures players will still attend en masse, Queen's and Eastbourne could suffer if they lose their ranking points as they clash with grass tournaments in Halle and Mallorca respectively. Neither of those have followed the LTA in imposing bans,

The All England Club, LTA, ATP and Government all declined to comment on Wednesday on the ongoing crisis.

But in an interview with the Evening Standard conducted before news of the player council’s position emerged, sports minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We completely supported the decision that Wimbledon made. While I understand there is some pushback from some players and governing bodies, I can tell you it’s got overwhelming support from the population. People understand exactly why they’ve done that.”

The WTA declined to comment on its own stance on stripping Wimbledon of ranking points.