I think there’s no pressure because it’s reported that they went through a consultation process, they also checked the legality of the move, etc, and then they decided. I don’t know why the NYT said the government applied pressure. I’m not - by the way - saying there was no pressure. I just haven’t seen any evidence of that. If there’s evidence of it, then that’s not a good thing.
I think this is a mistake by the AELTC and the LTA, and unfortunately the British government and opposition applaud it, which is not a good development. I don’t see it as British nationalism either. The UK have been good on the war so far, and I read that they’re also looking at some exports from the Xinjiang region from China, due to the obvious human rights abuses there against the Uighur Muslims. I think this kind of thinking is long overdue in the west. Nothing to do with tennis! But possibly revealing an examination of ethics and how they want to deal with tyrants, which is reflected in their support for Ukraine, and their support for the AELTC and the LTA.
I think of course that they’re wrong in this instance, but I place the blame on the LTA and AELTC, who, by the way, have also said they consulted the relevant international tennis authorities, presumably the ITF, the ATP and the WTA. Legally, as we’ve seen from a previous post, they may still have left an open goal for any challenge.
As for the woke remark, I didn’t mean that they’re acting from a woke mentality, but that they’re doing the same as woke people who try to cancel somebody for the most spurious reasons. I don’t even think the AELTC and LTA are acting PC - I just think they’ve gotten caught up in the horrible brouhaha and overestimated themselves with regards to how they can help Ukraine.
Hopefully an adult in the room there will speak to them soon…
