INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – World number four Daniil Medvedev expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the upcoming Paris Olympics and stated that he will adhere to the regulations as a neutral athlete, following the announcement made by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) regarding players from Russia and Belarus on Wednesday.
The ITF declared that athletes from these two countries would be allowed to compete in the Paris Games as neutrals without displaying flags, emblems, or anthems.
Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which also involved Belarus, athletes from these nations had been prohibited from participating in international competitions.
However, in March last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a series of guidelines for international sports federations to permit athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to competitions.
Prior to his match at Indian Wells, Russian player Medvedev expressed his eagerness to take part in the Olympics, recalling his positive experience in Tokyo three years ago when he reached the quarter-finals of the singles competition.
“If I can, I’m going to be there. I’m going to play singles and doubles,” Medvedev informed reporters.
He reflected on his time in Tokyo, describing it as a remarkable experience that left a lasting impact on him, even surpassing the significance of Grand Slam tournaments in tennis.
Regarding the requirement to compete under a neutral flag, Medvedev assured that he would comply with the regulations and strive to deliver strong performances at the Olympics.
Russian and Belarusian players currently participate in the ATP and WTA tours as neutrals, and the Olympic tennis event is scheduled to commence on July 27.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Writing by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
