Today is
e-mail: zair1952@gmail.com
tennis
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Andrea Gaudenzi
ATP Chairman, London, United Kingdom
Began serving as ATP Chairman on 1 January 2020. Following a highly accomplished professional career on the ATP Tour during which he won three titles and reached a career-high Ranking of 18, Gaudenzi obtained a law degree from the University of Bologna, Italy, followed by a Master of Business Administration at the International University of Monaco where he graduated with honours.
Began serving as ATP Chairman on 1 January 2020. Following a highly accomplished professional career on the ATP Tour during which he won three titles and reached a career-high Ranking of 18, Gaudenzi obtained a law degree from the University of Bologna, Italy, followed by a Master of Business Administration at the International University of Monaco where he graduated with honours.
Steve Simon
WTA Chairman and CEO, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
An American former tennis player and Former Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open (nIdian Wells)/ He was born in California, and played college tennis for Long Beach State University. He qualified for the Mixed Doubles event at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships.
An American former tennis player and Former Tournament Director of the BNP Paribas Open (nIdian Wells)/ He was born in California, and played college tennis for Long Beach State University. He qualified for the Mixed Doubles event at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships.
Tennis & War
To: Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman; Steve Simon, WTA CEO
From: Zairbek Mansurov, Journalist, Photographer
Dear Andrea,
Dear Steve,
I know that ATP and WTA cancelled the Wimbledon ranking points. I don't like to impose my opinion on anyone, but this decision doesn't seem right to me. Let me try to explain.
I am a Russian Journalist & Photographer, although I have been living in Canada for a long time. I left Russia shortly after the Putin regime was established there, when I realized the trend of the country's development under the new regime. Unfortunately, I was not mistaken...
As we all know, right now Russian President Putin and his military junta are committing a villainous crime against peaceful Ukraine.
The purpose of this treacherous military invasion is to punish Ukraine for wanting to build its life in the image of Europe, and not with militaristic, authoritarian Russia, which has been ruled for 22 years by the Putin regime.
Judging by the nature of the war, which has been going on for more than three months, and by the massive bombing of Ukrainian cities, Putin will not stop until he destroys everything in Ukraine.
Believe me: this is not a conflict between two countries (as the world's leading tennis players think and say), this is dictator Putin's revenge for the fact that Ukraine did not want to enter into a military-economic alliance with authoritarian Russia on Putin's terms, that is, as an obedient "younger brother".
Hundreds and thousands of people, including civilians, have been dying in Ukraine every day for three and a half months, and more than 12 million Ukrainian refugees have been forced to evacuate the country.
This year Wimbledon will not allow Russian and Belarus players to participate in the tournament because they are not ready (or because they are afraid for their families) to publicly condemn this criminal war waged by their country. In my opinion this is NOT DISCRIMINATION on the basis of nationality at all, this is only a forced restriction due to the aggressive war that these two governments (Russia and Belarus) are waging in Europe. In order for Russian and Belarusian players to participate in the tournament, little is required of them - they should refuse to support this war.
From: Zairbek Mansurov, Journalist, Photographer
Dear Andrea,
Dear Steve,
I know that ATP and WTA cancelled the Wimbledon ranking points. I don't like to impose my opinion on anyone, but this decision doesn't seem right to me. Let me try to explain.
I am a Russian Journalist & Photographer, although I have been living in Canada for a long time. I left Russia shortly after the Putin regime was established there, when I realized the trend of the country's development under the new regime. Unfortunately, I was not mistaken...
As we all know, right now Russian President Putin and his military junta are committing a villainous crime against peaceful Ukraine.
The purpose of this treacherous military invasion is to punish Ukraine for wanting to build its life in the image of Europe, and not with militaristic, authoritarian Russia, which has been ruled for 22 years by the Putin regime.
Judging by the nature of the war, which has been going on for more than three months, and by the massive bombing of Ukrainian cities, Putin will not stop until he destroys everything in Ukraine.
Believe me: this is not a conflict between two countries (as the world's leading tennis players think and say), this is dictator Putin's revenge for the fact that Ukraine did not want to enter into a military-economic alliance with authoritarian Russia on Putin's terms, that is, as an obedient "younger brother".
Hundreds and thousands of people, including civilians, have been dying in Ukraine every day for three and a half months, and more than 12 million Ukrainian refugees have been forced to evacuate the country.
This year Wimbledon will not allow Russian and Belarus players to participate in the tournament because they are not ready (or because they are afraid for their families) to publicly condemn this criminal war waged by their country. In my opinion this is NOT DISCRIMINATION on the basis of nationality at all, this is only a forced restriction due to the aggressive war that these two governments (Russia and Belarus) are waging in Europe. In order for Russian and Belarusian players to participate in the tournament, little is required of them - they should refuse to support this war.
And this is a very small step for them, but very important for the cause of peace in Ukraine. And then Wimbledon will allow them to participate in the tournament.
Those people in Russia and Belarus who do not support Putin's policy (about 30% of us) consider this Wimbledon decision to be correct, since Putin's regime like any other authoritarian regime, uses the achievements of athletes to promote and support its policies. And we are very saddened that the ATP (WTA) by its latest decision, voluntarily or unwittingly, helps Putin in this. And this will in no way contribute to the speedy termination of this war that claims hundreds or thousands of lives on both sides every day.
Several days ago, I was pleased to learn that you would be very happy to return points at Wimbledon if the ban was lifted for Russians and Belarusians who said they were ready to make written statements, because none of them is in favor of war. I believe that the players are not to blame. But those who keep silence are also responsible for the decisions of their government, as representatives of the aggressor country.
P.S. One additional piece of information: 20 years ago we founded the Russian Tennis Hall of Fame (I am the Founder and Director of this Hall). Its activities have been suspended since 2015 due to the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea, but over the years more than 60 people have been inducted there. And recently, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev was expelled from the Hall for supporting this war.
(More information on Russian Tennis Hall of Fame).
Thank you in advance for understanding.
Zairbek Mansurov
June 15, 2022
Those people in Russia and Belarus who do not support Putin's policy (about 30% of us) consider this Wimbledon decision to be correct, since Putin's regime like any other authoritarian regime, uses the achievements of athletes to promote and support its policies. And we are very saddened that the ATP (WTA) by its latest decision, voluntarily or unwittingly, helps Putin in this. And this will in no way contribute to the speedy termination of this war that claims hundreds or thousands of lives on both sides every day.
Several days ago, I was pleased to learn that you would be very happy to return points at Wimbledon if the ban was lifted for Russians and Belarusians who said they were ready to make written statements, because none of them is in favor of war. I believe that the players are not to blame. But those who keep silence are also responsible for the decisions of their government, as representatives of the aggressor country.
P.S. One additional piece of information: 20 years ago we founded the Russian Tennis Hall of Fame (I am the Founder and Director of this Hall). Its activities have been suspended since 2015 due to the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea, but over the years more than 60 people have been inducted there. And recently, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev was expelled from the Hall for supporting this war.
(More information on Russian Tennis Hall of Fame).
Thank you in advance for understanding.
Zairbek Mansurov
June 15, 2022
Andrey Rublev and Daria Kasatkina admits Russians could change citizenship
Russian and Belarusian tennis players will not take part in Wimbledon this year after the All England Tennis Club (AELTC) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)
banned players from the two countries from competing after Russia invaded Ukraine. This move was criticized by the ATP, WTA and ITF, but the AELTC and LTA stood firm in their position.Andrey Rublev and Daria Kasatkina admit that for the successful continuation of their careers, Russians could change their citizenship.
