– The Russians have been allowed to play Wimbledon this year, something they didn’t get last year, so I don’t think it should be a problem who she (Eikeri) chooses. This can happen a bit randomly. I think it’s a bit silly to go after. It becomes a witch hunt in a way. That’s what Casper Ruud says to news at a digital press conference ahead of the Båstad tournament in Sweden. TENNIS STAR: Casper Ruud. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Eikeri received criticism from news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt on Tuesday for playing with Russian Alexandra Panova in the prestigious Wimbledon tournament last week. Among other things, he calls her choice “ignorant”. In a statement to news, Eikeri apologizes and explains that she only thought about the sport and not about nationality when she chose to play with Panova. – In retrospect, I wish I had thought of this beforehand, but unfortunately I didn’t. I am very sorry for the choice I made, considering the world situation, and my support goes fully to Ukraine, says the 30-year-old. – Don’t understand why she should apologize Casper Ruud, however, believes that Eikeri has done nothing wrong – and gives her full support. – Russians are allowed to play Wimbledon, that’s plain and simple. And she does not support Russia even if she plays with a Russian partner. That partner has most likely lived 90 percent of her life outside of Russia and doesn’t know anything about where she’s from, he says and continues: – I can’t see that it’s supporting Russia, and then I don’t understand why she should apologize? Wimbledon has said they are allowed, WTA and ATP, and we follow that because we play under those organizations. Therefore, I don’t think there should be any problem that she chose a Russian in this case. SORRY: Ulrikke Eikeri tells news that she is sorry that she played with a Russian doubles partner at Wimbledon. Photo: PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP The Norwegian tennis ace doesn’t think Eikeri needs to complain at all. – I think she has most likely complained because you in the media are pressuring her to do so, says the Snarøya man. news has been in contact with Eikeri via her father. She does not wish to make any further comments on this matter. Ruud with sympathy for banned Swedish competitor The digital press meeting with Ruud was also marked by Tuesday’s shock news that Swedish Mikael Ymer has been banned for 18 months for having missed three doping tests in the course of a year. BANNED: On Tuesday it became known that Mikael Ymer has been banned for 18 months. Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP Ymer himself believes that the ban is unfair and explains that he has never used or been suspected of using an illegal substance. Ruud tells VG’s journalist that he has sympathy for the Swede and that he himself has had trouble complying with the obligation to report. – You must always keep in mind that you have to be in one place for an hour every single day. Therefore, it can be problematic to do spontaneous things such as meeting friends or inventing other spontaneous things, says Ruud to the newspaper and continues: – I have received warnings in the past and know how difficult it can be at times. But you just have to accept that you are a reporting duty executor. Casper Ruud starts the hunt for a new ATP title in Båstad on Thursday. He meets Russian Aleksander Shevchenko, who is ranked number 96 in the world.
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Ruud calls Eikeri’s criticism a “witch hunt” – thinks Russian cooperation is unproblematic – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
