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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Wimbledon braced for Ukraine and Russian cold front

‘Won’t sell my country’: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina refuses to shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the end of their French Open quarter-final. (Photo: AFP)

LONDON: In 2013, Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky pulled off one of the greatest Wimbledon shocks when he demolished Roger Federer on Centre Court.

Ten years on, Stakhovsky has exchanged his tennis whites for army fatigues as he fights with the Ukraine military against the Russian invaders.

The sporting fallout from the conflict will likely be reflected in the tranquil surroundings of the All England Club in leafy south-west London when Wimbledon gets underway on Monday.

Twelve months ago, players from Russia and close ally Belarus were banned from Wimbledon, the only one…

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