- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
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- 'Bullet for democracy': Trump returns to site of rally shooting
- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
- South Korean cult-horror series 'Hellbound' returns at BIFF
- Nepalis fear more floods as climate change melts glaciers
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- Supreme Court lets stand rules to curb mercury, methane emissions
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- Biden says 'not confident' of peaceful US election
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- Lukaku stars as Napoli beat Como to hold Serie A top spot
- Ohtani set for MLB playoff debut as Dodgers face Padres
- Pogba's drug ban cut to 18 months from four years
Zverev joins chorus of tennis stars opposed to Wimbledon's ban
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev on Friday joined the chorus of criticism against the decision by the organisers of Wimbledon to ban tennis players from Russia and Belarus at this year's Grand Slam tournament in London.
On Wednesday, Wimbledon banned them due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Belarus is seen to be an ally of Russia's with Russian troops crossing their border into Ukraine in the February 24 invasion.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which runs Wimbledon, said it was acting to "limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible".
However, the 25-year-old Zverev, currently ranked third in the world, said he sees "no reason why" players from Russia or Belarus "shouldn't play in Wimbledon".
At the moment, players representing the two countries are allowed to take part in ATP and WTA events but are barred from competing under the name or flag of their countries.
Zverev says "it's absolutely correct" that Russian and Belarussian teams are banned from tennis competitions.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has already barred both countries from the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
"That is something against Russia, I understand that," added Zverev as he prepares for next week's ATP tournament in Munich.
"I think we are all against the war, what is happening in Ukraine is inhumane and shouldn't be happening."
Zverev was born in Hamburg to Russian parents.
He stood up for his close friend, Russia's Andrey Rublev, who on Thursday blasted the decision by Wimbledon officials as "complete discrimination".
The decision means Rublev as well as players like compatriot and world number two Daniil Medvedev, plus women's fourth-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, sit out the June 27-July 10 tournament.
"I have spoken to Andrey," said Zverev, who pointed out Rublev has already taken a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
At the Dubai tournament in February, Rublev had scribbled "No war please" on a courtside TV camera after a victory.
"He (Rublev) is also ready to help Ukraine," added Zverev.
"He is ready to oppose the war, he is ready to send his prize money to Ukraine."
Zverev's comments come after world number one Novak Djokovic, called the Wimbledon ban "crazy".
ATP and WTA organisers branded the move "unfair" and "very disappointing".
Likewise, US tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King, a founder of the WTA in 1973, also spoke out against the decision.
"I cannot support the banning of individual athletes from any tournament, simply because of their nationality," she said.
Ukraine's top female player Elina Svitolina had said she feels that Russian and Belarusian players who do speak out against the invasion "should be allowed" to compete at Wimbledon.
F.Moura--PC