Russian Tennis Federation
Russian Tennis Federation (Russian: Федерация тенниса России) is a national governing body of tennis in Russia. It is the successor of the All-Russia Tennis Association (1989–2001) and the Tennis Federation of the USSR (1959–93). After the dissolution of All-Russia Tennis Association in 2001, it was organized and registered as supreme governing body of tennis sport in Russia in 2002.[2]
 | |
| Sport | Tennis |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | National |
| Abbreviation | RTF |
| Founded | 2002[1] |
| Headquarters | Luzhnetskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow |
| President | Shamil Tarpishchev |
| Replaced | All-Russia Tennis Association |
| (founded) | 1989 |
| Official website | |
| www | |
In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ITF suspended the Russian Tennis Federation.[3][4][5] In addition, Tennis Europe suspended the federation from membership.[6][7] Teams representing Russia were therefore ineligible to compete at all Tennis Europe events (including Winter & Summer Cups, European Beach Tennis, and Senior Club Championships).[7] All Tennis Europe events in Russia were suspended, including the European Junior Tennis Championships (16 & Under) in Moscow, and delegates from Russia were not eligible to attend the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Tennis Europe.[7]
In April 2022, Wimbledon announced the ban of Russian and Belarusian players from 2022 Wimbledon Championship because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.[8] In May 2022, the events was followed by the controversial ITF, ATP and WTA decisions to exclude all the ranking points from the oldest Grand Slam, just like it has been done to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics earlier. In response, the All England Club and the Committee of Management of The Championships criticised the desicions as 'disproportionate' and promised to try the extension of ban after collaboration with their Grand Slam colleagues.[9] Unsurprisingly, Russia's ambassador to the UK couldn't influence the decision of the Lawn Tennis Association regarding the Russians' ban on British soil in general and even thanked them for being polite.[10][11][12] Meanwhile, the ATP tried to emphasize the opportunity to implement "an alternative option that would have left the decision in the hands of individual players competing as neutral athletes through a signed declaration" because none of the players supported the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, also unsuccessfully.[13][14][15][16][17][18]