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Griekspoor Set to Play Gazprom-Backed St. Petersburg Exhibition Despite Dutch Calls to Withdraw

Officials can only appeal on moral grounds because tour rules allow players to enter independent exhibitions.

Overview

  • The Northern Palmyra Trophies exhibition is scheduled for November 29–30 at the Arena Sports Complex in St. Petersburg.
  • Dutch Foreign Minister David Van Weel urged Tallon Griekspoor not to attend, and the Dutch tennis federation said it communicated its stance but that the decision is his.
  • ATP and WTA classify players as independent contractors, so the tours cannot bar participation in off-calendar events and no sanctions have been indicated.
  • The event is sponsored by Gazprom, a state-owned company sanctioned by the EU, United States and United Kingdom.
  • Tennis365 reports Griekspoor appeared to dismiss the appeals in a now-deleted social media comment, and he remains listed in a field that includes Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik.