Russian tennis player prevented from entering Czechia

The foreign police at Prague airport did not allow a Russian tennis player into the country when she tried to enter on Thursday evening for the city's upcoming WTA tournament, the Czech News Agency reports. The tournament's organisers did not disclose the player's name but three Russians were due to participate in the singles qualifiers: Diana Shnaider, Polina Kudermetova and Erika Andreeva.

The organisers told journalists on Friday that all other Russian and Belarusian participants have been informed that due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is a ban on their athletes participating in sports competitions in the country and have advised them not to travel to the Prague Open. Tournament director Miroslav Malý said they do not expect any player with Russian or Belarusian citizenship to participate in the tournament given the circumstances.