"I want to represent what I can represent": Daniil Medvedev outlines goal to play Olympic Games no matter what

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has developed a new respect for the Olympic Games, and is excited at the prospect of playing in Paris this year, regardless of which flag he represents.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarussian athletes are not allowed to compete under the Russian flag at the Olympic Games. However, they are permitted to compete at the event as part of the group of “Individual Neutral Athletes”, although they won’t be able to be part of the opening ceremony.

The former World No.1 admitted to not seeing the importance of the Olympics when he first joined the ATP tour. However, he gained a new respect for the event after competing for the first time at the Tokyo Games in 2021, and is looking forward to participating this year in Paris.

"For me, it’s very important because I was in Tokyo…I just went there like another tournament, you know, try to play well try to win it,” the Russian told reporters at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Monday. “And when I was there, I was like, wow, actually there is something special, which I couldn’t feel before coming there.
“I really became motivated by it and I really wanted to do well. And when I lost in quarters, I was much more disappointed than I was almost ever – of course finals of Grand Slams, they hurt also, so too tough to choose, but I was like really, really down for some time after losing there.

“So I decided for myself that whenever I can play the Olympics, I want to be there I want to represent what I can represent. If it’s not under the flag, I know who I am, I know why I play tennis and I played like this all my life. So I’m gonna go there try to play well, try to make myself proud and some other people proud, and see how it goes.”