Sloane Stephens backs choice to strip All England Club of positioning places

Sloane Stephens has upheld the choice to strip Wimbledon of positioning places, after the All England Club restricted Russian and Belarusian players from the Grand Slam.

Both the WTA and the ATP declared on Friday that no focuses would be on offer at the current year’s competition after Wimbledon bosses restricted Russian and Belarusian players from contending directly following the conflict in Ukraine.

Various players including Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have revolted against the All England Club’s position.

What’s more, Stephens, an individual from the Tour’s player chamber, said: “I think the (Wta’s) choice that was taken was the right one.

“I believe that there is a great deal of things that occurred in the background and I think there has been a ton of misusing of how everything was dealt with.

“We will simply go from that point. Clearly I support our CEO, I support my committee, I support the players.

“The choice that has been messed with clearly wasn’t taken. I think when you are forced into a tight spot and that is everything you can do, I imagine that is the reason the choice was made, and I support it.

“I think when you take a gander at the standards and what our Tour rely on, separation won’t ever be endured.”