A Moscow-born women's tennis player has avoided Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarusian players by changing her nationality to Georgian.
Natela Dzalamidze, 29, is listed as being from Georgia in Wimbledon's roster for the women's doubles event. Her nationality is Georgian on the Women's Tennis Association tour's website.
Dzalamidze is currently ranked 43rd in doubles. She will play with partner Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia at Wimbledon, which begins on June 27.
The All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said in April it would not allow players from Russia or Belarus to compete at the grass-court tournament this year because of the war in Ukraine.
The AELTC said it had no involvement in a player’s change of nationality.
"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]," a spokeswoman for the AELTC said in an e-mail message quoted on June 19 by news agencies.
Wimbledon has been stripped of its ranking points by the men's and women's tours over its decision to exclude players from Russia and Belarus.
No other Grand Slam tournament has followed Wimbledon's lead. The U.S. Tennis Association, sponsor of the U.S. Open in New York, said earlier this month that Russian and Belarusian players would be allowed to compete at the U.S. Open under a neutral flag.
Wimbledon's ban has ruled out several top players, including Russian Daniil Medvedev, the men's world No. 1 and winner of the 2021 U.S. Open, as well as two-time major winner and world No. 20 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
