Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev, regarded by some as the world’s fourth strongest racket, clarified that he did not include the player he views as the Roland Garros favorite in his latest list. His remarks set the pace for discussions around the French Open, as reported by Sport Keeda.
Medvedev said, “If Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz participate, they will likely be among the leading contenders. They have a strong history on this surface and have claimed Grand Slam titles. Yet the field now appears more open than ever.”
The French Open is scheduled to be held in Paris from May 26 to June 9, with Djokovic currently holding the defending champion title at Roland Garros.
On May 14, Medvedev concluded his run at the Rome Masters. In the fourth round, the Russian faced defeat against American player Tommy Paul in straight sets (1-6, 4-6), which prevented him from defending the title he won last year and caused a significant drop in his rankings, reducing his total to 6295 points.
Earlier, on March 6, the International Tennis Federation announced a decision allowing Russian and Belarusian players to compete under neutral status at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. Competitors from Russia and Belarus will be permitted to take part if they meet the neutral athlete criteria established by the International Olympic Committee, a framework designed to ensure participation aligns with the IOC guidelines while avoiding direct national representation.
There have been discussions noting that Medvedev could risk losing a spot in the ATP rankings as a consequence of recent results and policy developments. The evolving landscape for players from Russia and Belarus continues to shape expectations ahead of the Olympics and the double challenges of the Grand Slams and the calendar year. The Olympic decision aims to balance athletes’ competitive opportunities with the IOC’s neutrality principle, a topic that has drawn consistent attention from media and fans alike. (Source: Sport Keeda)