Russian-born women’s doubles player Natela Dzalamidze to represent Georgia at Wimbledon

Women’s doubles player Natela Dzalamidze – who was born in Moscow – to represent Georgia at Wimbledon to get around ban on Russian players

Russian-born Natela Dzalamidze will represent Georgia at Wimbledon
Players from Russia and Belarus are banned from competing at the tournament
The decision was taken in April following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Associated Press

Published: 00:26 BST, 20 June 2022 | Updated: 00:26 BST, 20 June 2022

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A women’s doubles player who was born in Moscow will be able to get around the ban on Russians at Wimbledon this year because she now represents the country of Georgia.

Natela Dzalamidze, a 29-year-old who is currently 44th in the doubles rankings, is listed as being from Georgia on the WTA Tour website – and in Wimbledon´s entry list for the tournament, which begins June 27. Dzalamidze will play with partner Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia.

‘Player nationality, defined as the flag they play under at professional events, is an agreed process that is governed by the Tours and the ITF (International Tennis Federation),’ an All England Club spokeswoman said in an email to The Associated Press on Sunday.

Russian-born women’s doubles player Natela Dzalamidze will represent Georgia at Wimbledon

Dzalamidze was born in Moscow but will represent Georgia to get around the ban on Russians at Wimbledon

The All England Club said in April it would not allow players from Russia or Belarus to compete at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament this year because of the war in Ukraine.

Russia, with help from Belarus, began attacking Ukraine in February.

The WTA and ATP professional tennis tours responded to the All England Club´s ban by announcing they would not award ranking points to any players for results at Wimbledon.