FILE–Russia’s Daniil Medvedev is about to compete within the Paris Olympics 2024 as a impartial. (Picture by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)
There will likely be no flags or fanfare for Daniil Medvedev on the Paris Olympics however Russia’s highest-profile athlete within the French capital is unlikely to be removed from the headlines.
The tennis star, together with different Russian and Belarusians on the Video games, has to compete as a impartial following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Having demonstrated that they haven’t supported the conflict and don’t have any hyperlinks to the army, they’ve been allowed to compete however can’t fly their nationwide flags.
The 2 international locations’ nationwide anthems are additionally banned and may Medvedev win an Olympic medal for the primary time, the achievement is not going to be recognised within the medals desk.
READ: Paris Olympics 2024: How you can watch, when it begins, key dates
“Once I’m 40, if I can say I performed within the Tokyo Olympics, Paris Olympics and Los Angeles Olympics, I had numerous enjoyable in my life, my profession, I’m going to be completely happy,” mentioned Medvedev.
The 28-year-old world quantity 5 is without doubt one of the most controversial gamers in tennis.
The six-foot-six big got here near being disqualified from his Wimbledon semi-final in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz this month for a foul-mouthed rant on the chair umpire, earlier than escaping with a warning.
Medvedev defined that he had referred to as the official “a small cat”.
His explosive temperament has seen him feud with rivals Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.
READ: Nadal, Andy Murray might be bidding tennis adieu at Paris Olympics 2024
In Miami in 2018, after Tsitsipas made a foul-mouthed comment about Medvedev, the Russian dismissed the Greek as a “small child who doesn’t know the best way to play”.
His rivalry with Zverev peaked at Monte Carlo final yr when Medvedev saved two match factors in a tense last-16 victory.
Germany’s Zverev lashed out at Medvedev for taking a rest room break at a key second within the tie, blasting the Russian as “one of the crucial unfair gamers on the planet”.
Medvedev hit again, telling the present world quantity 4 to “check out your self within the mirror”.
Within the Netflix collection “Break Level”, Zverev accused Medvedev of taking part in “soiled video games” and added: “He’s anyone that is aware of the best way to play with the top of the opponent”.
‘Silly’
FILE–Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, left, shakes palms with Daniil Medvedev of Russia after he gained their semifinal match on the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Friday, July 12, 2024. (AP Picture/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Crowds world wide haven’t escaped the wrath of Medvedev.
On the Paris Masters final yr, he branded followers “silly” for jeering throughout one in every of his matches. Regardless of suggesting that he would halt his match, he agreed to proceed, however warned his tormentors “shut your mouths, okay!”
Regardless of his fiery persona the chess-playing and fluent French-speaking Medvedev has reached the peaks of the game.
On the 2021 US Open he claimed his solely main title, simply defeating Novak Djokovic within the remaining and denying the Serb a uncommon calendar Grand Slam.
True to his unorthodox nature, Medvedev celebrated his New York victory by falling to the ground of the Arthur Ashe Stadium and imitating the “lifeless fish” celebration from a FIFA online game.
Medvedev has come agonizingly near including to his majors assortment.
On this yr’s Australian Open remaining he surrendered a two-set result in lose to Jannik Sinner. Two years in the past in Melbourne, he had opened a two-sets lead over Rafael Nadal solely once more to lose in 5.
Nadal additionally received the higher of him on the 2019 US Open remaining over one other five-setter.
Away from the Grand Slams, Medvedev is one in every of simply six males to have captured six or extra Masters titles, becoming a member of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Nadal, Andre Agassi and Andy Murray.
When he spent 16 weeks as world primary in 2022, he was the primary man aside from Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal in 18 years to achieve prime spot.
On the Paris Olympics 2024, which open on Friday, Medvedev believes his finest likelihood of a medal will likely be in doubles fairly than singles, on a clay-court floor which has typically been alien to his recreation.
“I’m going to organize loads for doubles and blended doubles as a result of I do consider I’ve extra possibilities there than in Roland Garros singles,” he mentioned.
Observe Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.
