TEHRAN – Meshkatolzahra Safi, a 17-year-old Iranian girl, missed out on playing at Wimbledon this year after failing to get a visa in time.
Before the tournament, she obtained a license to participate in the junior tournament but had to withdraw at the last moment.
According to Safi’s manager, the British government and Wimbledon were uncooperative on the visa. “Today is a sad day for sport in general and for tennis in Iran,” her manager wrote on Instagram.
“Meshkat had to withdraw from the tournament because the UK government did NOT grant her a visit visa in time nor did the tournament organizers do anything to help. It’s sad to think how politics affects so many people’s lives, their dreams, their careers and their ambitions.”
It should be noted that Safi became the first Iranian girl to play at the junior Australian Open earlier this summer.