Veronika Kudermetova fired a shot on the Russia ban in crew competitions as the previous world No. 9 cheekily remarked that the competitors “apparently got scared of us.”
Shortly after the struggle in Ukraine began, the ITF introduced that Russia and Belarus had been briefly banned from competing within the the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup occasions. Additionally, the ATP and WTA banned these two nations from participating within the United Cup.
Simply months earlier than the expulsion, Russia gained each the 2021 Davis Cup Finals and the 2021 Billie Jean King Cup Finals titles.
Relating to the Russian DC crew, they beat Croatia for his or her first title since 2006 and general the third within the competitors. On the opposite facet, the Russian BJK Cup crew ousted Switzerland for his or her fifth most important glory within the competitors.
Kudermetova was part of the 2021 crew that landed Russia their first BJK Cup title since 2008.
“I didn’t really think about it, to be honest. We left beautifully, as winners. Both boys and girls. And then, apparently, they got scared of us,” the previous world No. 9 informed Championat when addressing the ban.
Russian BJK Cup crew© Veronika Kudermetova/Instagram – Honest Use
What occurred practically three years in the past?
“The Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its facilitation by Belarus. Along with the cancellation of all ITF occasions in these nations, the ITF Board has right this moment introduced the instant suspension of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) and Belarus Tennis Federation (BTF) from ITF membership and from participation in ITF worldwide crew competitors till additional discover. The ITF stays in shut contact with the Ukraine Tennis Federation and stands in solidarity with the folks of Ukraine,” the ITF stated in a press release on Might 1st, 2022.
On the time, some had been pushing for the Russian and Belarusian gamers to be banned from competing throughout all ATP and WTA tournaments. Whereas Wimbledon proceeded with that in 2022, others did not as the final perception was that there was no motive to individually punish Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Because the struggle remains to be ongoing, there aren’t any indications that Russia and Belarus will likely be allowed to return to the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup in 2025.
