Despite Wimbledon's ban on Russian and Belarussian tennis players due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the US Open will allow them to compete this year.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, USTA CEO and Executive Director Lew Sherr, whose organisation runs the U.S. Open, said the USTA Board decided to let Russians and Belarusians compete because of "concern about holding individual athletes accountable for the actions and decisions of their governments."

US News reported that Sherr said athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under a neutral flag at Flushing Meadows, an arrangement that has been employed at other tennis events across the world, including the French Open, which finished on June 5.

Since Russia began its attacks on Ukraine in February, Russian athletes have been prevented from taking part in many sports, including soccer’s World Cup qualifying playoffs. Belarus has aided Russia in the war.