Tennis · Urda, Basel, and Guangzhou
WTA blocks Kaitlin Quevedo from wearing black armband for Urda train crash victims
Kaitlin Quevedo was refused permission to wear a black armband at Guangzhou in memory of the 69 people killed in the Urda rail crash, while the ATP let Rafa Jódar wear one in Basel.
AI text based on reports by LaVanguardia, El Periódico, LaSexta and other publishers. Published . How it is made
For membersThe first 30 seconds for everyone. Synthetic voice (AI).
In brief
The WTA refused Kaitlin Quevedo permission to wear a black armband in her Guangzhou quarterfinal against Jil Teichmann, and told her a band of any other colour was acceptable, according to LaSexta.
Rafa Jódar wore a black armband on his left sleeve in his round-of-16 match in Basel on 29 October, and the ATP raised no objection.
The WTA symbols and slogans policy bars charity, cause and political messages on players, their clothing or equipment, except for official WTA-backed campaigns.
A Renfe high-speed train collided with an Iryo train near Urda on 28 October, and tallies published on 29 October counted at least 69 dead.
- 28 OctA Renfe high-speed train collides with an Iryo train near Urda, Toledo province
- 29 OctRafa Jódar wears a black armband in his round-of-16 match in Basel
- 30 OctThe WTA refuses Kaitlin Quevedo's black armband for her Guangzhou quarterfinal
Request refused in Guangzhou
Kaitlin Quevedo asked to wear a black armband during her quarterfinal against Switzerland's Jil Teichmann at the Guangzhou tournament in China, to remember the 69 people killed in the Urda rail accident in Toledo province. The request was turned down before the match. Quevedo had watched fellow Spaniard Rafa Jódar wear a black armband in Basel and wanted to follow his example. According to El Periódico, she went on to beat Teichmann 7-6(2), 6-3.
Jódar's precedent in Basel
Jódar wore a black armband on his left sleeve in his round-of-16 match at the ATP 500 event in Basel on Thursday, 29 October, a 6-7, 6-2, 6-7 loss to Monaco's Valentin Vacherot. He kept the band on for the whole match, 20minutes reported. The ATP raised no objection, according to El Periódico. The 20-year-old from Madrid also sent condolences to the victims' families and thanked emergency teams, La Razón reported.
The WTA rule
The WTA's policy on symbols and slogans has been in force since 1 October 2024. In a statement to EFE, the tour said:
“The display of any symbol or slogan associated with a charity, cause, movement or political party is not permitted on players, their clothing or equipment”
The rule covers the court and its surroundings, press conferences, interviews and tournament ceremonies, while players remain free to voice support outside WTA tournaments, including on social media. The only exception is an official campaign backed by the WTA, and the Toledo tribute was not one. The Spanish daily AS, as reported by 20minutes, explained that the regulations formally bar a black armband. LaSexta reported that Quevedo was told she could wear a band in any colour except black. The explanation points to the general symbols policy rather than a specific decision against the tribute.
The Urda accident and reaction
The collision happened on Wednesday, 28 October, when a Renfe high-speed train collided with an Iryo train near Urda. Tallies published on Thursday counted at least 69 dead, with numerous injured and families still waiting for news of relatives. Footballers, tennis players, clubs and federations sent messages of support, La Razón noted, and the newspaper set these against the refusal. The gesture Quevedo wanted to make, La Razón wrote, was meant as condolence rather than a political or commercial message.
Ask about this text
Sources and context
- LaVanguardiaWhy did the WTA ban Quevedo from wearing a black armband for the Toledo victims while the ATP allowed Rafa Jódar to do so?¿Por qué la WTA prohibió a Quevedo llevar un crespón negro por las víctimas de Toledo y la ATP se lo permitió a Rafa Jódar? · original in Spanish
- El PeriódicoWTA bans Kaitlin Quevedo from wearing a black armband for the Urda train accidentLa WTA prohíbe a Kaitlin Quevedo lucir un crespón negro por el accidente de tren de Urda · original in Spanish
- LaSextaRegrettable: the WTA bans Quevedo from wearing a black armband for the victims of the Urda accidentLamentable: la WTA prohíbe a Quevedo portar un crespón negro por las víctimas del accidente de Urda · original in Spanish
- 20minutesWhy can't Quevedo pay tribute to the victims in Spain?Pourquoi Quevedo ne peut-elle pas rendre hommage aux victimes en Espagne ? · original in French
- Kaitlin Quevedo
- Spanish tennis player from the Canary Islands whose request to wear a black armband at Guangzhou was refused
- Rafa Jódar
- Spanish tennis player from Madrid who wore a black armband at the ATP 500 event in Basel
- Jil Teichmann
- Swiss tennis player who faced Quevedo in the Guangzhou quarterfinal
- Valentin Vacherot
- Monegasque tennis player who beat Jódar in the Basel round of 16
Pollar is free and carries no ads in the text. Its members keep it going.
Support Pollar