“The place where you were born matters a lot.” Daniil Medvedev said that he had not thought about changing his sports citizenship

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev said that he had never thought about changing his sports citizenship.

Medvedev is 29 years old and a native of Moscow. In 2025, several Russian tennis players switched to the flags of other countries: Daria Kasatkina (Australia), Anastasia Potapova (Austria), Kamilla Rakhimova, Maria Timofeeva and Polina Kudermetova (all from Uzbekistan).

— Last year, many Russian players changed their citizenship. What do you feel about it? Do you understand why they took such a step?

“I said that I 100% understand and respect them, because this is what can be done, especially in sports. Perhaps this is even easier for athletes than for other people. I never thought about it because I believe that where you are born matters a lot. Politics and other things are another matter. I repeat, many players change their citizenship, and among them are my friends. This is their choice,” Medvedev said at a press conference.

On Wednesday, Medvedev beat Frenchman Quentin Alice in four games in the second round of the Australian Open. The Russian will play against Fabian Marozan from Hungary in the next round of the Australian Open.