IOC allows eight more Russian, Belarusian tennis players to participate at Paris Olympics 2024

Aryna Sabalenka and Andrey Rublev have turned down the Paris Olympics 2024 invitation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to open the doors to Paris Olympics 2024 to a select group of Russian and Belarusian tennis players. As a precondition for entry, the admitted players will compete as neutrals at the quadrennial event.

Invitation to play has been extended to eight players from Russia and a further two from Belarus. Players from both countries have been excluded from team events since 2022 due to the conflict in Eastern Europe. The status of the tennis players as neutrals carries over from the ATP and WTA tours.

The tennis segment of the Paris Olympics runs from July 27 to August 4. The Russian men invited include Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Roman Safiullin. Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, Ekaterina Aleksandrova and Mirra Andreeva are among the Russian women on the list. The Belarusians offered a place in the Olympics are Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka. 

International Tennis Federation (ITF) will put forth a revised qualification process for these players as they have not qualified due to their absence from team events such as the Davis Cup and Billie Jean Cup. Being neutral athletes, they will be subject to ITF regulations.

Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Aryna Sabalenka have already expressed their inability to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be skipping the Olympics to avoid the rapid switching of surfaces from Wimbledon on grass to clay at the Olympics and onto hard courts for the US Open. Andrey Rublev chose to sit out of the event, citing health reasons for not turning up at Roland Garros. 

Earlier in March this year, the IOC issued recommendations paving the way for the return of the competitors from these countries. In tennis, medals in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles are there for the taking.

The Russian and Belarusian athletes will not compete under their countries’ flags, emblems or anthems, nor will they be a part of the opening ceremony. The two countries continue to be excluded from all team events. The athletes from these two countries participating in wrestling, weightlifting, and cycling have also been cleared for participation by the Olympic committee.

The opening ceremony for Paris Olympics is scheduled to take place on July 26 and will wind up on August 11.

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