Only under the Russian flag! Olympic Games must do without two elite tennis players

The rules for Russian athletes to compete at the Paris Olympics are quite clear. None of them can compete under the flag of their country. So the tennis tournament will lose two excellent tennis players. Who refusedthis condition ?

• Russians must compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics
• For example, Andrei Rublev refused to participate under these conditions
• The best Russian tennis player will be in Paris

The Russians currently have three representatives in the top tiers of the ATP rankings. However, only one of them will compete in the Olympic tournament.

Two Russians have refused the conditions set. In fact, these players can only compete at the Olympics under a neutral flag.

The first player we won’t see in Paris will be Andrei Rublev. This player is even an Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles. However, he will not be defending this or any other medal at the upcoming Olympics.

The Moscow native could do his best on the clay courts of Roland Garros. This surface suits him best.

On the other hand, he is limited by his own psyche. One of his outbursts even got him disqualified from this year’s tournament after he shouted at the umpire.

The next absentee in Paris will be Karen Khachanov. She will not defend her silver medal from Tokyo under a neutral flag.

Who will participate?

The best of Russian tennis players will be present. Daniil Medvedev is the highest-ranked Russian on the ATP rankings and will be among the favourites. Although clay is not his favourite surface, he managed to succeed on it last year in Rome at the Masters tournament.

The other Russians in the men’s section of the tennis tournament will be Roman Saffiulin and Pavel Kotov. The former will also play alongside Medvedev in the doubles.

But from an overall perspective, the participation of the best tennis players in the world at the Olympics will be outstanding. Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will not be missing. Rafael Nadal will also be in his beloved place.

Source: Reuters, ITF