Russian Tennis Federation declares Andrey Rublev, Karen Kachanov and Liudmila Samsonova will all miss Paris Olympics; reasons unknown

Andrey Rublev set to begin his grass season at the Halle Open.

Russian Tennis Federation declares Andrey Rublev, Karen Kachanov and Liudmila Samsonova will all miss Paris Olympics; reasons unknown

Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov (Image via Imago)

The Russian Tennis Federation has excluded its top players Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov, and Ludmila Samsonova from the Olympic Games in Paris. It is a shocking move as Rublev and Khachanov both won a medal in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Nonetheless, this also came a few months after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) permitted Russian and Belarusian players to compete in the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics. Russian athletes were banned from the Olympic Games due to the country’s engagement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

However, despite the permission of the ITF, Russian and Belarusian players are not allowed to cross-pollinate (play in mixed doubles, Russia – Belarussian partnership) at the Paris Olympics. Rublev was the 2020 mixed doubles Champion, partnering with fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. But, this year, he will not have the chance to defend his gold medal.

Khachanov won a silver medal in the singles of the 2020 Olympics and was part of the Russian team that won the Davis Cup that same year. Meanwhile, WTA No.15 Samsonova was part of the Russian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2021.

Rublev, Khachanov, Samsonova will not play [at the Olympics]. Andrei needs recovery, he plays everything in a row. The body is not made of iron.
Shamil Tarpishchev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation, said via TASS.

Rublev has had his ups and downs this season but has two titles under his name. He won the Madrid Open despite playing with an apparent injury. On the other hand, Khachanov has won one title this season.

Andrey Rublev’s mother reveals her son is still recovering from tonsillitis

Andrey Rublev’s mother has revealed that her son is still recovering from tonsillitis. The Russian suffered from bacterial infection at the Madrid Open but went on to win the tournament. He revealed he spent days in the hospital and ate baby food.

Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev (Via Imago)

According to Rublev’s mother, he is still undergoing treatment and his body has been greatly weakened due to playing consecutively.

Yes, Andrey will not go to the Games in Paris. I think it's health-related. Andrey just needs to find time to heal his throat. Treat or remove tonsils. He was currently undergoing treatment. As I understand it, after this the body is greatly weakened.
Andrey Rublev via Sport24.

However, Rublev is slated to begin his grass season at the Halle Open on Monday. He will face American Marcos Giron in the second round of the competition and is also going to compete in the doubles.

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