Medvedev outlines Olympic goal: “I want to represent what I can represent”

The Russian says he’s excited to compete in Paris, where he will play as a “neutral athlete”

Imago / Panoramic

April 8, 2024

Tennis and the Olympics has come a long way since it was reintroduced to the sport, officially, in the 1988 Games in Seoul. Steffi Graf’s victory – securing the Golden Slam in the process – and that of Miloslav Mecir put the sport firmly back into the heart of the Olympics.

For Russian players, and in fact, most nations in eastern Europe, the Olympic Games has always held added meaning. Elena Dementieva, who achieved a lifelong dream when she won gold in 2008, used to say that if you stopped any Russian person in the street, they would know what the Olympics was, whereas if the question referred to, say, Roland-Garros, it would result in blank faces. Yevgeny Kafelnikov won two Grand Slam titles but his 2000 gold medal from Sydney must be his prized possession.

Tokyo experience showed Medvedev value of Olympics

Daniil Medvedev readily admits that when he first came on to the Tour, he didn’t think Olympic tennis was a big deal. That all changed when he played in 2021, and now, he can hardly wait for the 2024 Games, even if he won’t be able to play in Russian colours. because of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

“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.”

Neutrals can’t march at opening ceremony

Medvedev is allowed to play in the Olympics this year as part of the group of “Individual Neutral Athletes”, something that means he won’t be able to be part of the opening ceremony. That might be a blessing in disguise, with the tennis event due to start the following day.

The world No 4 did not want to get into the rights and wrongs of the ruling, but did say “there are many unjust things in the world” and promised to just get on with his job.