"I’m a professional tennis player. I’m not into politics or anything": Adrian Mannarino forced to defend playing Russian exhibition sponsored by Gazprom
ATPMonday, 15 January 2024 at 23:00
Adrian
Mannarino (No. 19) secured a marathon victory against Stan Wawrinka (No. 56) in
the debut of the 2024 Australian Open with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
During the press conference, the Frenchman addressed the controversy
surrounding his participation in the Northern Palmyra Trophies exhibition,
sponsored by Gazprom.
The company
is a major energy giant predominantly owned by the Russian government. Amidst
the war with Ukraine, Russia is prohibited from hosting ATP events; however,
tennis players are free to participate in exhibition matches in the country.
“I’m not into politics or anything”
Lesia
Tsurenko, currently ranked world No. 33, recently criticized the tennis players
who participated in the exhibition, mentioning Mannarino as one of the players
who did not respond to her messages requesting them not to participate. When
asked if he had spoken with Tsurenko, Mannarino said, "I had no contact
with her, so I don’t know." Other players such as Roberto Bautista Agut
and Laslo Djere also participated in the event.
Mannarino
emphasized that his participation does not imply support for any side and that
he is simply doing his job as a professional tennis player. He stated,
"I’m a professional tennis player. I’m not into politics or anything. I
just went there. I did my job. That’s what I did." He clarified, "I’m
not supporting anything. That was a private event. That was not anything about
political support. There’s nothing to talk about," as the world No. 19
added.
Read also
Mannarino to second-round
World No.
19 Adrian Mannarino is experiencing the best moment of his career and advanced
to the second round at the expense of the 3-times Grand Slam champion Stan
Wawrinka in a tough match. Mannarino commented on the match, saying, "That
was pretty intense. The conditions were not easy," during a press
conference afterwards.
"It
was important for me to win the match, so that's what I've done finally. I
don't really care about what happened, how I've played, and everything. I mean,
I just hit the ball, and I got the win at the end, so I'm happy with
that."
"I
probably got lucky a little bit in the fourth set. I got broken. I felt like he
was in control, and we had the new balls, and I started to return a little bit
better. Then suddenly it switched a little bit."
Mannarino
will face the Spanish player Jaume Munar (No. 82) in the second round, who
secured victory against Alexander Shevchenko (No. 48) in the first round with a
score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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