The US Open has decided to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete under a neutral flag. The USTA has taken a stand against Russian and Belarusian players being excluded from participating at Wimbledon this year. Given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the All England Club has decided to prohibit players from both nations from competing at Wimbledon this year. Although the USTA stated that athletes from the two nations can only compete under a neutral flag.
Players eligible to compete at the 2022 US Open regardless of nationality
“The USTA will allow all eligible players, regardless of nationality, to compete at the 2022 US Open,” the organization said in a statement. It further added that “the USTA will work with the players and both tours to use the US Open as a platform to further the humanitarian effort of the ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ program.”
USTA president Mike McNulty said, “Unfortunately, the need for help only continues to grow. The USTA will be responding very soon with a broad set of initiatives; that will include significant financial assistance and other programs to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine.”
The ATP, WTA, ITF, and four Grand Slams agreed to suspend the Russian and Belarusian tennis federations from the ITF and international tennis tournaments immediately as the conflict in Ukraine began. At the same time, they authorized individual athletes from those countries to compete under a neutral flag in competitions.
Because the USTA decided to allow Russian and Belarussian players to compete this year, World No. 1 and defending champion Daniil Medvedev will be eligible to compete in the US Open again. Having missed Wimbledon, Medvedev is projected to retain his World No. 1 status heading into the US Open. This is because the ATP withdrew ranking points from the tournament in light of their stance to exclude players.