Virginie Phulpin 7:25 a.m., March 2, 2022

Every day, the morning of Europe 1 returns to one of the sporting events which makes the news.

This Wednesday, she returns to the request of Ukraine which claims the exclusion of Medvedev from the Grand Slam tournaments.

According to her, it is a mistake, he cannot do anything about it and has already positioned himself against the war.

This morning Virginie Phulpin is interested in Daniil Medvedev, the new boss of world tennis.

He is number 1 in the standings, but the problem is that he is Russian, and because of his nationality, this number 1 place is a poisoned gift. 

There could be a debate on whether this number 1 spot makes Daniil Medvedev the best player in the world, or if he still has a long way to go before he is the real boss of tennis.

But the circumstances push this issue into the background, to say the least.

There could not be a worse time to become number 1. Daniil Medvedev has officially been at the top of the ranking since Monday, but we knew he was going to take this place last Thursday.

The very day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Needless to say, the player only moderately savors what should be an accomplishment.

Already in normal times, when you are number 1, you become the man that everyone else wants to beat.

But this takes on a whole new dimension.

Because he is Russian.

Yesterday the Ukrainian tennis federation asked the international federation to ban Daniil Medvedev from participating in the grand slam tournaments, so that he loses his status as world number 1.

I find it difficult to understand the point of such a request.

Daniil Medvedev has taken a very clear position against the war waged by his country.

His wife was dressed in the colors of Ukraine last week at the Acapulco tournament.

So he is not hiding, we cannot suspect him of any support for Russia.

And he plays in his own name, not in that of his country.

Which makes a big difference with Russian teams banned from international competitions.

His only fault is being Russian.

It becomes dangerous as a position.

And maybe counterproductive. 

The international federation has decided: Russian players can play Grand Slam tournaments, but not the Davis Cup

Seems like the best possible answer to me.

In line with what the IOC recommended.

National team competitions under the Russian flag are no.

Playing for yourself in a tournament without a symbol of Russia is yes.

You're going to tell me that's not a big punishment given what the Davis Cup has become, but Daniil Medvedev and his compatriots happen to be the defending champions, so it counts.

What would be the point of preventing him from playing the other tournaments?

Look at Ukrainian Elena Svitolina.

She is playing the Monterrey tournament in Mexico this week.

And she was opposed in the first round to a Russian player.

She had threatened not to come.

But the sanctions announced by the authorities, the prohibition of any Russian symbol on the court, made him change his mind.

She came,

and she soundly beat the Russian Potapova tonight.

Isn't that a stronger message?

Daniil Medvedev is not the representative of evil on a tennis court.

A welcome political commitment on the part of sports authorities should not be transformed into an indiscriminate Russian witch hunt.

It would seem much less glorious to me.