It is 500 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine but, at the venue that once imposed sport’s most controversial ban of its athletes, you really would never have known.

Applause, whoops and cheers were all that greeted the combined skills at Wimbledon on Saturday of seven of Belarus and Russia’s finest players, notably Daniil Medvedev, the third seed on the men’s draw, women’s number two seed Aryna Sabalenka and, the precocious 16-year-old qualifier Mirra Andreeva.

As a standing ovation greeted Medvedev’s four-set victory over Marton Fucsovics, the BBC’s on-court interviewer Rishi Prasad even noted that the crowd “seem to be on your side and will be supporting you”.

Medvedev had earlier described it as the most positive crowd reaction since he first played at Wimbledon in 2017. “It’s much better than I had before,” he said.

Outrage over the return of players from Russia and Belarus has also been negligible so far throughout the grounds of SW19, suggesting that, for all the historical overlap between Vladimir Putin’s regime and sport, the Wimbledon fans are here simply to enjoy their tennis.

The All England Club has required Russian and Belarusian players to sign declarations of neutrality and provide reassurance that they are not receiving funding from their government or connected companies.

What has been implemented is the complete non-mention of Russia and Belarus in any official tournament communication.

Many of the fans at Wimbledon on Saturday were in support of Russian and Belarusian players again competing following a ban last year that cost the Lawn Tennis Association and the All England Club more than £1 million in fines from international tennis’s governing bodies.

There has certainly been considerable appreciation — and relief — from the Russian and Belarusian players at the crowd reaction so far. “People are very nice,” said Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. “I felt like I was very welcomed everywhere. And I really appreciate that.”

Aryna Sabalenka, the No 2 seed from Belarus who was victorious on Saturday in straight sets against Russia’s Anna Blinkova, admitted that she had not known what reception to expect.

“The support really means a lot,” she said. “It was an amazing atmosphere. I didn’t realise how much I missed Wimbledon.”

The Daily Telegraph in London