Georgia nationality switch allows Russia-born Dzalamidze to play
Wimbledon
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[June 20, 2022]
(Reuters) - Moscow-born
Natela Dzalamidze will be able to compete at Wimbledon despite a ban
on Russian and Belarusian players at this year's championships after
she changed her nationality to represent Georgia.
The 29-year-old is listed as being from Georgia in Wimbledon's entry
list for the women's doubles, where she is set to partner Serbian
Aleksandra Krunic. Her nationality is Georgian on the WTA Tour's
website.
In April, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) banned Russian
and Belarusian players from competing at Wimbledon due to the
invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military
operation". Belarus has been a key staging area for the invasion.
The AELTC said it has no involvement in players' change of
nationality.
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"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," a spokesperson for the AELTC told Reuters
in an email.
The WTA and ITF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The grasscourt Grand Slam, which begins on June 27, has been
stripped of its ranking points by the ATP and WTA Tours over its
decision to exclude players from Russia and Belarus.
Earlier this month, the United States Tennis Association said
Russian and Belarusian players would be allowed to compete at the
U.S. Open this year under a neutral flag.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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