The ATP and WTA have officially announced their decision to withdraw ranking points from Wimbledon Championships this year. This is due to Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the event after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber is regaining her form ahead of the French Open, having reached the Strasbourg Open final. Casper Ruud and Cameron Norrie also reached the round of titles in Geneva and Lyon respectively.

The French Open qualifiers have been placed in the draw and players like Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz finally know who they will face in the first round. Here is a summary of today’s news:

ATP and WTA decline to award ranking points for Wimbledon 2022

In light of Wimbledon banning Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the event this year, the ATP and WTA have decided not to award ranking points for the grass-court major.

While the ATP and WTA are still speaking out against Russian atrocities, they disagree with the Wimbledon ban as they consider it discriminatory. Both organizations believe that entry into events is meant to be based on merit rather than nationality.

Ranking points for other events held in the UK will still be awarded, as Russian and Belarus players will have the option to participate in events held in other countries, which is not the case for Wimbledon.

Official statements from the ATP and WTA are accessible here and here.

Angelique Kerber reaches the Strasbourg Open final

Former world number one Angelique Kerber advanced to the Strasbourg Open final after semi-final opponent Oceane Dodin was forced to retire with injury. The German was leading 7-6(2), 1-0 before Dodin was forced to retire.

Kerber reached his first clay-court final since winning the Stuttgart Open in 2016. After failing to win just one match during the clay-court season leading up to Strasbourg, it was a remarkable turnaround for the German.

This run will certainly inspire confidence as the German looks to complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros. She won the Australian Open and US Open titles in 2016, and Wimbledon in 2018.

Casper Ruud one win away from successfully defending his Geneva Open title

World number 8 Casper Ruud beat Reilly Opelka 7-6(2), 7-5 to advance to the Geneva Open final. He has yet to drop a set this week. Ruud will face Joao Sousa, who beat Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-2, in the final.

Cameron Norrie reaches Lyon Open final for second straight year

World number 11 Cameron Norrie has advanced to the Lyon Open final for the second year in a row. The Briton held off a tough challenge from teenager Holger Rune to win 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. He lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas last year in the final.

Norrie is expected to face Alex Molcan for the title. The Slovak won 7-6 (2), 6-2 against Alex de Minaur in the last four.

Iga Swiatek will start his Roland-Garros 2022 campaign against Lesia Tsurenko, Carlos Alcaraz will face Juan Ignacio Londero

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The qualifiers were finally placed in the draw for Roland-Garros 2022. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will face Lesia Tsurenko, who reached the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2018. Emma Raducanu will face Linda Noskova, who won the junior French Open last year and is now making his senior Grand Slam debut.

Teenage phenom Carlos Alcaraz pulled a lucky first-round loser in the form of Juan Ignacio Londero. The Argentinian reached the fourth round of Roland-Garros in 2019.