Tennis News : Medvedev on 'stupid' French Open covid rule

World number two Daniil Medvedev had a few strong words to say about coronavirus restrictions at the upcoming French Open and the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July on Tuesday as he took some time out from competing at the UTS Championship exhibition tournament near Nice. "Maybe it's stupid," the Russian said of having to take part at Roland Garros with only a very limited number of support staff. "If the rule is same for everybody, I have zero problems with it," Medvedev said, "But then last year I was seeing top 10 players with four or five people, members of their family or members of their staff. And that's where I ask the question." The Australian Open finalist also expressed his relief at not having to go into quarantine for 14 days prior to the Olympic tennis tournament. "I think nobody from tennis players will go there," he said, if athletes had to spend two weeks in a room before the competition. Medvedev said that in his heart he will be competing for Russia in Tokyo, but joked that he understands that he will be there as a neutral athlete. "I think if I'm not mistaken, I cannot say the word 'Russia' at the Olympic Games," he said with a smile. In December 2019, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned Russia from all international sport for four years after it concluded that there was a systematic state-sponsored doping programme in the country.