The tennis competitions of the 2024 Summer Olympics will take place from July 27 to August 4 on the courts of Roland Garros. On Saturday, June 15, the IOC named the first 14 Russian athletes authorized to participate in the Paris Olympic Games in neutral status. It’s interesting that there wasn’t a single tennis player on the list, but let’s chalk it up to bureaucracy. It’s not just that the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, has said that in connection with the decision of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to allow all Russian tennis players in the application to participate in the Olympic Games, they will be able participate in all categories, and not just in the individual championship.
Russian tennis players admitted to the Olympic Games
“We have no complaints.” Medvedev, Mirra and six other Russians go to the Paris Olympics
However, problems arose from where they were not expected. Literally on the same day, shortly after the IOC list appeared, some of our tennis players began to refuse to participate in the Games.
“Rublev, Khachanov and Samsonova will not play in the Olympic Games. Andrey needs recovery, he risks everything. The body is not made of iron,” Tarpishchev himself stated.
Explanation of Andrei Rublev’s mother
Andrei Rublev’s mother said that the tennis player will not play in the 2024 Olympic Games
Later a rumor spread that Daria Kasatkina also did not really want to go to the tournament. Perhaps the largest army of fans in Russia belongs to the country’s best tennis player, Daniil Medvedev. There was no new information or data about him, which means that today Meddy, as fans call the athlete, must play in Paris.
I really want to believe that there will be no misunderstandings or denials in Daniel’s case. Medvedev, who does not have any Olympic medals in his collection, definitely needs to travel to the French capital for several reasons.
Daniil is the face of Russian tennis and a very recognizable figure in our sport. Yes, at the Olympic Games the Russians will compete in a neutral state, but we all know very well who to support and which athletes are our compatriots.
What Russian tennis players can we expect in Paris?
Rublev and two other Russian tennis players will not play in the Olympic Games. But Mirra wants to go.
Medvedev speaks fluent French and his permanent place of residence is Monaco. Paris is just a stone’s throw away. Daniel is very loved in France, they treat him very warmly and the tennis player himself feels like a fish in water in this country.
Let’s not forget that there are two French coaches in Medvedev’s team: Gilles Cervar and Gilles Simon. We have no doubt that one of the main rivals in the Russian’s career, the German tennis player Alexander Zverev, will also play at the Olympic Games. Sasha is an Olympic champion in Tokyo, but Daniil has no Olympic medals. And this is another motivation to perform at the Olympic Games.
Daniil Medvedev
Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Of course, there are also many disadvantages. More recently, the Roland Garros Grand Slam tournament ended in Paris; This, in fact, marks the end of the clay season. Now the tennis players have moved to grass and from July 1 to 14 they will compete in another Slam: Wimbledon. The Olympic Games are scheduled right after, which will be played on clay. That is, you will have to rebuild again. But this is not the most important. Daniil’s favorite season on hard courts will begin next; two Masters will take place almost immediately: in Montreal and Cincinnati.
This means you will have to fly across the ocean, acclimatize, and move on to the next new layer. I have no doubt that Djokovic and Nadal, who want to play in Paris, will not fly to Canada. Zverev and Medvedev could also retire if they reach important stages at the Olympics. The problem is that in the Olympic Games there are no cash prizes or ranking points, unlike the major tournaments on the ATP circuit.
And, of course, the US Open stands out, Medvedev’s favorite major, where he was proclaimed champion. The tournaments that start after the Olympic Games are part of the preparation for them. Therefore, it is very important to correctly distribute the forces. All of Medvedev’s staff, including coaches, rehabilitation therapists and physiotherapists, should do an excellent job in this regard. Let’s see what plan Medvedev’s team, including the athlete himself, finally chooses.
