Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates winning the men's singles semi-final match against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas on day twelve of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2022. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
Daniil Medvedev has been out of action on the ATP tour due to a hernia procedure in March. The Russian star is set to return to action at the Geneva Open for his next match.
Daniil Medvedev will return to the ATP Tour as the main draw entrant at the Geneva Open. Medvedev will face the winner of the first-round clash between French journeyman Richard Gasquet and Australia’s John Millman. The Russian star hasn’t played on the ATP tour since his quarter-final loss against Hubert Hurkacz at the Miami Open in March.
Speaking on his return, Medvedev said, “I feel great. I managed to get around I would say two weeks of good practice and one week of full practice. I decided that it’s going to be good to prepare for the French Open, to get some matches here. Some matches, hopefully more than one.” He further added, “It has never been easy for me on clay courts to straightaway start good. But, I’m feeling good. Physically, I’m ready.”
This will be Medvedev’s first appearance on clay since losing in last year’s Roland Garros quarter-finals against Stefanos Tsitsipas, and he is hoping to adjust to the surface quickly. The 13-time tour-level champion will pursue his first title of the year in Switzerland and his maiden crown on clay. He will have to overcome a tough field, which includes potential quarter-final opponent, Dominic Thiem, defending champion Casper Ruud and third seed Denis Shapovalov.
Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the tournament scheduled to take place in June. Wimbledon authorities announced that they would bar Russian and Belarusian players from playing in the tournament this year as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Belarus’ direct support of the war. Wimbledon has become the first tennis event to restrict individual Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing.
The decision means the exclusion of several highly ranked players. Four Russian men are ranked in the top 30 on the ATP Tour, including No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, who is the reigning U.S. Open men’s champion. Russia has five women in the top 40 of the WTA Tour rankings, led by No. 15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is ranked No. 4 and was a Wimbledon semifinalist last year. Her compatriot Victoria Azarenka, a former No. 1, is ranked No. 18.
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