Virginie Phulpin, edited by Juline Garnier 1:58 p.m., March 02, 2022

Daniil Medvedev is the new boss of world tennis.

The player is number 1 in the ranking, but the problem is that he is Russian.

And in the middle of the war in Ukraine, this golden place in the ranking becomes a poisoned gift, because of his nationality. 

There could be a debate 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.

Except that the circumstances put this question in the background.

There was no worse time to become first.

The player has officially topped the rankings since Monday, but the news broke last Thursday, the same day Russia invaded Ukraine.

In fact, the player savors only moderately what should be an accomplishment.

Normally, a number 1 is a player that everyone else wants to beat.

But this competition now takes on a whole new dimension.

Because Daniil Medvedev is Russian.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian tennis federation asked the international federation to ban the tennis player from participating in Grand Slam tournaments, so that he loses his status as world number 1.

However, this request raises questions.

The number 1 has positioned itself against the Russian offensive

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

Last week at the Acapulco tournament, his wife was dressed in the colors of Ukraine.

He therefore in no way gave his support to the Russian offensive.

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

This makes a big difference with the Russian teams, rightly banned from international competitions.

His only fault would therefore be to be Russian.

A dangerous and even perhaps counterproductive position because preventing a player who loudly proclaims his opposition to the war from participating in major tournaments would not necessarily send the right message. 

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The International Tennis Federation has therefore decided: Russian players can play Grand Slam tournaments, but not Davis Cup matches.

This decision follows the recommendation of the IOC, the International Olympic Committee.

National team competitions will not be under the Russian flag, but playing for yourself in a tournament without a Russian symbol is possible.

It's not a big punishment then given what the Davis Cup has become, but it happens that Daniil Medvedev and his compatriots are the defending champions, so such a choice remains important.

A world of tennis shaken by the political crisis

The war in Ukraine affects everyone in tennis.

This is also the case of the Ukrainian Elena Svitolina.

This week, she is playing the Monterrey tournament in Mexico 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 beat the Russian Potapova hands down on Tuesday night.

The symbol is strong.

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.

Taking sides would be much less glorious.