World number 1 Novak Djokovic said that he was surprised at the decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus at Wimbledon.
The decision was taken after the Russian attack on Ukraine. Djokovic called the decision "insanity".
Wimbledon on Wednesday banned players from Russia and Belarus from participating in the Grand Slam. Although Russia does not call this attack a 'special operation'.
The Grasscourt Grand Slam is the first tennis tournament to have banned these two countries. In this, world number two Russian player Daniil Medvedev and Belarus number four player Arnaya Sabalenka will not be able to participate in this tournament starting from June 27.
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Djokovic, who grew up in war-torn Serbia, said the athletes had nothing to do with the current controversy.
Djokovic During Serbia Open
Djokovic said during the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 event in Belgrade, 'I have always opposed the war. I will never support the war. My childhood has been war-torn.
He said, 'War goes through a lot of emotional pain. What happened in Serbia We know what happened in 1999. There has been a lot of war in the Balkans in recent times.
'However, I cannot support the Wimbledon decision. I think this is madness. When politics interferes in the game, the results are not good.