Kate could face embarrassment for ‘congratulating someone from Russia’ at Wimbledon
The decision to ban all Russians and Belarusian players from this year’s
Championships in response to the invasion of Ukraine was made largely due to the
prospect of providing propaganda for Vladimir Putin through the sight of a member
of the British Royal Family presenting the famous trophy to one of his country’s athletes.
However, it is being claimed that one may have slipped through the net.
Ms Rybakina will walk out on Centre Court on Saturday representing Kazakhstan, the
country she adopted in 2018 shortly after her 19th birthday - a decision that was
financially motivated to help her career - but that hasn’t stopped Russia from claiming her as one of their own.
Andrei Chesnokov, the former Russian tennis player who worked with Ms Rybakina.