Medvedev's top ranking under a cloud as Ukrainian federation demands Russia ban

Reuters

London, February 28

Moscovite Daniil Medvedev reached the pinnacle of men's tennis when he became the ATP's world number one on Monday but what should have been a day of pride for Russian sport has been engulfed by the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Medvedev is only the third Russian man to top the standings and the first player outside the so-called "big four" of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to hold the top spot in 18 years.

But with the sporting world uniting in condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Medvedev's meteoric rise to the top could hardly have happened at a worse time for tennis.

On Sunday the Ukrainian Tennis Federation urged the sport's governing body the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to immediately expel Russia and Belarus from the organisation and ban Russia from team and individual tournaments.

In a letter seen by Reuters, the Ukrainian federation described the actions of Russia and Belarus in Ukraine over the past four days as "unprecedented, cynical and bloody".

"Civilians are dying, including women and children; civilian infrastructure is collapsing ... This is a full-scale war that will push our country back decades," the letter said, adding that the goal of Russia's invasion was "extermination." "Russia and Belarus do not have the right not only to hold international competitions on their territory, but also to participate in all ITF team and individual tournaments abroad," the letter continued.

Ukrainian Tennis Federation board member Seva Kevlych, talking to Reuters from Kharkiv on Monday, said Medvedev and other Russian players should be barred from Grand Slam tournaments and the Russian Tennis Federation barred from the Davis Cup and Billie Jean Cup team events of which they are reigning champions.

"Let (Medvedev) play on the ATP Tour but Grand Slams are ITF events and if you lose the possibility to play in Grand Slams he could never be world number one," Kevlych said. "He shouldn't play in the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon.

"I don't care that Russia is the holder of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. It would shame them when the holders are kicked out of these events.

"For Daniil to not represent the (Russian team) it's not a big penalty for him but it's a big shame for him. To represent a team with no flag, no anthem and no history in a team event, probably it would make him do the right thing."

'Swift action'

In response to the Ukrainian letter the ITF said it had taken "swift action" to cancel all events in Russia indefinitely and that no ITF events would be held in Belarus for 2022.

"This is a fast-evolving situation; we are in active discussion with the ITF tennis family and the ITF Board to decide and align around our next course of action," it said.

"We stand united with the Ukraine and are working with the Ukraine Tennis Federation. Right now, our priority is the safety of the tennis players and the security of all those participating in our events." Ahead of his coronation as world number one Medvedev took to Twitter on Sunday with a plea for peace, although did not comment on the current situation.

"Today I want to speak on behalf of every kid in the world," he said. "They all have dreams, their lives are just starting, so many nice experiences to come...

"That's why I want to ask for peace in the world, for peace between countries. Kids are born with inner trust in the world, they believe so much in everything, in people, in love, in safety, in justice, in their chances in life.

"Let's be together and show them that's it true, because every kid shouldn't stop dreaming." Medvedev's fellow Russian Andry Rublev, the world number seven, wrote "No War Please" on the lens of a TV camera on his way to winning the Dubai title last week.

French Open 2021 finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova called for an end to violence and war in a social media post on Monday.

"Personal ambitions or political motives cannot justify violence," Pavlyuchenkova said. "This takes away the future not only from us, but also from our children. Stop the violence, stop the war." Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists. 

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