PARIS: There will be no flags or fanfare for Daniil Medvedev at the Paris Olympics, but Russia's most famous athlete is unlikely to be far from the headlines in the French capital.
The tennis star, along with other Russians and Belarusians at the Games, must compete as a neutral following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
After demonstrating that they do not support the war and have no connection to the military, they are allowed to compete, but are not allowed to fly their national flags.
The national anthems of the two countries are also banned, and if Medvedev wins an Olympic medal for the first time, the achievement will not be recognized on the medal table.
“When I'm 40 years old, when I can say that I played in the Tokyo Olympics, the Paris Olympics and the Los Angeles Olympics, I had a lot of fun in my life, in my career, I will happy,” said Medvedev.
The 28-year-old world No. 5 is one of the most controversial players in tennis.
The 1.98m (6ft 6in) giant came close to being disqualified from this month's Wimbledon semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz for swearing at the umpire's chair before escaping with a booking.
Medvedev explained that he called the official a “little cat”.
His explosive temperament led to feuds with opponents Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.
In Miami in 2018, after Tsitsipas made obscene comments about Medvedev, the Russian called the Greek “a little kid who doesn't know how to play.”
His rivalry with Zverev peaked in Monte Carlo last year when Medvedev saved two match points in a tense round of 16 victory.
Germany's Zverev hit out at Medvedev for taking a toilet break at a key moment in the match, calling the Russian “one of the most unfair players in the world”.
Medvedev responded by telling the current world No.4 to “look at himself in the mirror.”
In the Netflix series “Break Point”, Zverev accused Medvedev of “dirty games” and added: “He is someone who knows how to play with the opponent's head.”
Crowds around the world did not escape Medvedev's wrath.
At the Paris Masters last year, he called fans “stupid” for booing him during one of his matches.
Despitea suggestion that he stop his match, he agreed to continue, but warned his abusers to “shut your mouths, ok!”
Despite his hot temper, Medvedev, who plays chess and is fluent in French, has reached the pinnacle of the sport.
At the 2021 US Open, he won his only major title, easily defeating Novak Djokovic in the final and denying the Serb a rare calendar Grand Slam.
True to his unorthodox nature, Medvedev celebrated the victory in New York by falling to the floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium and mimicking the “dead fish” celebration from the FIFA video game.
Medvedev came close to completing his special collection.
In this year's Australian Open final, he blew a lead in two sets and lost to Yannick Siner.
Two years ago in Melbourne, he opened a two-set lead over Rafael Nadal, only to lose again in five.
Nadal also got the better of him in the 2019 US Open final over another five-setter.
Away from Slam tournaments, Medvedev is one of only six men to win six or more Masters titles, joining Djokovic, Roger Federer, Nadal, Andre Agassi and Andy Murray.
When he spent 16 weeks as world number one in 2022, he became the first person other than Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal in 18 years to hold the top spot.
At the Paris Olympics, which open on Friday, Medvedev believes his best chance of a medal will be in doubles, not singles, on a clay court that has often been foreign to his game.
“I'm going to prepare hard for doubles and mixed because I think I have a better chance there than in singles at Roland Garros,” he said.
