Australian Open 2026: Medvedev says no plan to renounce Russian nationality amid war

Along with Kasatkina (Australia) and Potapova (Austria), Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova has switched allegiance to Ukraine, as has Maria Timofeeva.

Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev said on Wednesday he had no plans to follow a host of fellow Russian players and switch his citizenship amid the war in Ukraine.

winner and Russia’s highest-profile player, was born in Moscow but lives in Monte Carlo.

Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev said on Wednesday he had no plans to follow a host of fellow Russian players and switch his citizenship amid the war in Ukraine.

Since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, a number of Russian players have distanced themselves from their birthplace.

Former world number eight Daria Kasatkina, now ranked 43, changed allegiance to Australia last March after criticizing Russia’s attitude towards LGBTQ people.

She also described the conflict as a “nightmare”.

More recently, Anastasia Potapova announced that her application for Austrian citizenship had been approved.

But Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. The Open winner and Russia’s highest-profile player said he would not be following suit.

“I 100 percent understand and respect, because, you know, that’s something you can do basically, especially in sports,” he said at the Australian Open.

“It’s even maybe a bit easier than for other people.

“I never really considered this,” added the 29-year-old, who was born in Moscow but lives in Monte Carlo.

“Because I believe in where you are born is important.

“But again, a lot of players change, and I’m friends with them. I’m friends with a lot of players in the locker room, so it’s their choice.”

Russian and Belarusian players currently compete under a neutral white flag.

Along with Kasatkina and Potapova, Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova has switched allegiance to Ukraine, as has Maria Timofeeva.

Daniil Medvedev stated that he had no intent of changing his nationality, unlike several other Russian players, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Various Russian players have distanced themselves from their home country since Moscow’s invasion in 2022, but Medvedev stated that he had no intention of changing his nationality.

“I completely understand and respect their decisions because, you know, it’s something you can do, especially in sports,” he said.

“It’s perhaps even a bit easier than for other people. I never really considered this,” added the 29-year-old, who was born in Moscow but resides in Monte Carlo.

“I believe that where you are born is significant. But again, many players change, and I am friends with them. I am friends with many players in the locker room, so it’s their choice.”

Currently, Russian and Belarusian players compete under a neutral white flag. Daria Kasatkina, previously ranked world number eight and now ranked 43, switched her allegiance to Australia last March after criticizing Russia’s stance on LGBTQ issues. She described the conflict as a “nightmare”.

Recently, Anastasia Potapova announced that her application for Austrian nationality had been approved. In addition to Kasatkina and Potapova, Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova has switched allegiance to Uzbekistan, as has Maria Timofeeva.

Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev said Wednesday that he has no plans to change his nationality, distancing himself from a increasing number of Russian tennis players who have done so in recent years.

Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, many Russian players on the professional tennis circuit have sought to sever formal ties with their home country.

Daria Kasatkina, a former world No. 8 now ranked 43rd, switched her loyalty to Australia last March after criticizing Russia’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people. She has also described the war as a “nightmare.”

More recently, tennis player Anastasia Potapova announced that her application for Austrian nationality had been approved.

Medvedev, however, said he does not intend to follow that path.

“I 100% understand and respect [those decisions], because, you know, that’s something you can do basically, especially in sports,” he said at the Australian Open. “It’s even maybe a bit easier than for other people.

“I never really considered this,” said Medvedev, 29, who was born in Moscow and now lives in Monte Carlo. “Because I believe… where you are born is important.

“But again, a lot of players change [citizenship], and I’m friends with them. I’m friends with a lot of players in the locker room, so it’s their choice,” he said.

Russian and Ukrainian tennis players currently compete in international competitions under a neutral white flag.

In addition to Kasatkina and Potapova, Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva have also changed their sporting loyalty, both now representing Uzbekistan.

MELBOURNE: Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev says he has no plans to change his nationality, despite several compatriots doing so since the war in Ukraine started.

The 2021 US Open champion made the comments at the Australian Open, stating he “100 percent” respects the choice of others.

Former world number eight Daria Kasatkina changed allegiance to Australia last March, having criticized Russia’s attitude toward LGBTQ people.

She also described the conflict as a “nightmare”.

More recently, Anastasia Potapova announced that her application for Austrian citizenship had been approved.

Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva have also switched loyalty to Uzbekistan.

Medvedev, Russia’s highest-profile player, said the option for athletes to switch was understandable.

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