“It’s difficult for Russian players to express themselves” Nicolas Mahut has sympathy for Daniil Medvedev and Co.
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Daniil Medvedev, Nicolas Mahut, Andrey Rublev
World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev and his Russian compatriots on both the ATP and WTA Tours have to now play under a neutral flag after the tennis governing bodies decided to suspend the Russian Tennis Federation amidst Russia’s attempt to invade Ukraine that has started a war which is now into its second week.
While the world of sports has nothing to do with politics, the consequences of politics have surely affected the world of sports and the condition of Russian athletes across global sports. Many Russian athletes are now facing some sort of reaction towards them with footballing nations refusing to play against them or events in Russia getting cancelled for a long time as in the case of the Russian Grand Prix in F1.
Amidst this, while many have spoken against the Russian activity, not many Russian athletes have opened up entirely on their personal perspective. While they have denounced the action and hoped for restoration of peace, the hesitation to hold their country responsible for the war has been visible and French veteran Nicolas Mahut has spoken on similar lines while representing France at the Davis Cup qualifiers that will be played over this weekend
“I find it good that they have the opportunity to do their job. It’s difficult for Russian players to express themselves. Some did, some on tiptoe. But you have to put yourself in their shoes. I imagine that they don’t have the same facility as us to express themselves. It can’t be very easy for them either,” said Mahut as reported by L’Equipe.
Indian Wells will be the first tournament to see Daniil Medvedev and others without their flags
While the WTA Tour made the change immediately at the ongoing 2022 Monterrey Open in Mexico where all participating Russian players were seen playing under a neutral flag, for the ATP Tour, the first event will be the 2022 Indian Wells Masters that begins in a week’s time in California.
The players could only hope that they are not welcomed by a hostile crowd as the United States have been one of the loudest voices in putting sanctions on Russia, it will be good to see if the players who are not at fault do not get heckled by the crowd just because of their nationality.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)