The LTA has responded after being fined a staggering £822,000 ($1 million) by the ATP and threatened with explusion for banning Russians and Belarusians from their pre-Wimbledon tournaments over the summer. Britain’s governing body for tennis did not allow players from the two nations to compete in response to the war in Ukraine, and the LTA have shared their “deep disappointment” with the fine while accusing the men’s tour of showing a lack of emphathy for the situtation in Ukraine.
The LTA has been fined by the ATP after banning Russian and Belarusian players from their tour events in the lead-up to Wimbledon this summer in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The governing body’s decision came after the All England Club opted to ban players from the two nations from competing in Wimbledon.
And the body for tennis in Britain has also been threatened with expulsion from the men’s tour if they make the same decision in 2023, with the war in Ukraine ongoing. The ATP opted to fine the LTA £164k ($200k) for every tournament staged at ATP Tour and Challenger level over the summer – Queen’s, Eastbourne, Surbiton, Nottingham and Ilkley.
It comes after the LTA had already been hit with a £617k ($750k) sanction from the WTA Tour, something Britain’s governing body for tennis is understood to be appealing. And the body slammed the men’s tour in response to their latest fine, claiming they failed to understand the “unique circumstances” of the situation.
JUST IN: Boris Becker ‘set for TV interview’ following prison stint
The LTA also revealed that the fines were preventing them from holding smaller tournaments to give opportunities to lower-ranked players, as their statement continued: “The financial impact of both this fine and the WTA’s fine will have a material impact on the LTA’s ability to develop and host tennis in this country.
“For example, we had intended to host a number of ATP Challenger level events to give more opportunities to lower ranked players in the first quarter of 2023 and will now not be able to do this, particularly given the possibility of further fines.
“We will carefully consider our response and we await the outcome of our appeal against the WTA’s decision and sanction.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
