Charlie Eccleshare
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Ukraine talks could see Europeans excluded
the fact he's not missing any Grand Slams would be a huge relief because there was that expectation that he could miss two of them and then be undercooked for the US Open. And, you know, his whole Grand Slam year could have been wiped out. And that's taken away the possibility he could have got a one-year ban or a two-year ban, which was in play, even if not likely.
Global News Podcast
Ukraine talks could see Europeans excluded
Yeah, I mean, it certainly is. I think they're still at the point where they can say, well, these are two pretty strange, pretty isolated cases where it's been found ultimately that the player hasn't done a huge amount wrong. But yes, you know, you start getting many more like this and we've got a big, big problem.
Global News Podcast
Ukraine talks could see Europeans excluded
And it's clearly a pretty bad look when a men's world number one and a women's world number one is testing positive for doping. And I think what's arguably part of the picture as well and why this is a challenge for tennis is then this perception of at least, and a lot of people say the reality, that it's one rule for certain level players and another for the top level players.
Global News Podcast
Ukraine talks could see Europeans excluded
100%. I mean, look, this sort of two-tier or three-tier nature of tennis is baked right in. Think of scheduling. The best players get to play in the courts they want, at the times they want. It's there for all to see. We know that. Some top players get appearance fees at playing events.
Global News Podcast
Ukraine talks could see Europeans excluded
But I think it's when it happens in something like this, where surely it should be completely fair and even, that's when those tensions that are always there, just bubbling under the surface, really come to the boil.