"We offered Wimbledon to play mixed doubles with Ukrainians, there is no war in tennis" - says Rublev
ATP
Andrey Rublev recently revealed that Russian players offered Wimbledon to play the mixed doubles event with Ukrainian players.
Rublev and Daria Kasatkina recently had a few very honest talks with Russian video creator Vitya Kravchenko. Kravchenko visited Rublev and Kasatkina in Barcelona, where they both practiced.
While Kasatkina opened up about her sexuality, Rublev spoke about Wimbledon and not being able to play. The 24-year-old Russian was one of the players who showed disagreement with the actions of his country, and he's not afraid to say it again.
The Russian player revealed that he suggested to the tournament organizers to play in a mixed doubles tournament with a Ukrainian player, but he was rejected.
"Everyone is working as hard as possible and attending other tournaments just to get to the four Grand Slams and show their best. Of course, I was frustrated when I found out about the suspension. Everything I earn, I invest in my career and then I am forbidden from doing my work. It is upsetting for sure."
"We offered some solutions that could be really helpful diplomatically - playing in mixed doubles with Ukrainians or not coming for the medals. We wanted to use the platform of a championship to show that we don't fight here, that there is no war in tennis. It's most important now."
Rublev wanted to use his platform on the tennis court to show that there are Russian players who also stand by the Ukrainians, but he always heard the same response.
"As a tennis player, I could deliver the right message from the court but I kept getting the same answer: The Russian government is going to use our results for propaganda. So whatever I'd say, the answer was, and is, the same. I couldn't understand why they say so."
"I still hope to play in the Olympics again in the future. I really wish. And yes, I am insanely happy to have played and won the Olympic gold. When it happened, I felt on top of the world."
