In the last few hours the picture of the participants called to compete in the event has begun to be clearly outlined tennis tournament valid for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Among the many confirmations, there is also no shortage of first weight defections. Today, Saturday 15 June, not by chance three lump sums arrivedlinked to the name of Andrey Rublevwinner of mixed doubles gold at Tokyo 2020, and of Karen Khachanov, silver in the singles again in the last edition of the Games. To these is also added Liudmila Samsonova in the women’s circuit.
The confirmation came from Shamil Tarpischev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation. The reasons are nebulous: if Rublev’s, according to the words of the tennis player’s mother released to the media, could be linked to physical reasons (the player is recovering from tonsillitis which slowed down his performance), those of the others were not specify.
The feeling, according to many observers, is that this is a political move. In fact, given the current war conflict still underway in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes are required to accept certain conditions to take part in the Five Circles event as neutral players. Among these there is also respect for the Olympic Charter, including the “Peace mission of the Olympic movement“.
At the moment there is no news regarding the other prominent Russian profile, Daniil Medvedevwhose participation currently seems confirmed, barring second thoughts.
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