In an act of defiance it appears that Russia intends to hold this year’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow with or without approval from the sports governing body.
The combined event was scheduled to take place later this year but has been suspended by both the ATP and WTA as part of the sports response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country’s federation has also been banned from participating in team events by the ITF and players must compete under a neutral status. The penalty has also been issued to Belarus who are suspected of supporting Russia in the conflict.
However, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) has vowed to hold the Kremlin Cup in 2022, even if it is in a very different situation compared to previous editions. Shamil Tarpischev has said the country will hold an event for Russian players and those from what he called ‘friendly countries.’ Naming the likes of Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Russia has been hit with sanctions from multiple countries due to their military actions.
“There will be no full-fledged Kremlin Cup. We will make an open championship of Russia in the same time frame from our athletes and athletes from friendly countries,” Tarpishchev told Sport Express.
Tarpischev says that this year ‘focus will be on Russian players’ in relation to the proposed tournament or tournaments. He adds that over the coming weeks the federation will need to look into ‘how the situation in the world will develop.’ In the country the official regulator has warned media outlets against using the term ‘war’ and hundreds have been detained for protesting.
With there being no ‘full fledged’ event taking place this year, it is unclear as to who might play. As of this week the country has 10 players ranked in the top 300 on the men’s Tour, including world No.1 Daniil Medvedev.
“Can we count on the fact that Medvedev and the rest will play in the tournament? Previously, yes, we discussed. Now we need to look for funds and a base,” said Tarpischev.
Even more extraordinary is that the RTF believes it is ‘quite realistic’ to one day stage tournaments in the disputed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The Donbas region borders Russia in the east of Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists governing it have self-declared the area as an independent state. President Vladirmir Putin formally recognized the DPR (as well as the Luhansk People’s Republics) shortly before invading Ukraine under the pretext that he was defending people in those regions.
“I think it’s quite realistic. An interesting idea, but this, of course, needs to be coordinated with ATP for a long time,” Tarpischev commented on the matter. “First they must give the go-ahead. There is common sense in this – the development of tennis in the regions. We have already held tournaments in Khanty-Mansiysk. If we are allowed to organize competitions in the DPR, then it will, of course, be possible to implement.”
It is unclear as to why the RTF hopes to hold one of their events in DPR when they have recognized it as an independent entity. Although when Cirmea was annexed back in 2014 a ‘referendum’ took place which voted in favour of the region eventually joining Russia.
No date was given about when the RTF’s Kremlin Cup will take place in 2022.
Note: quotes obtained via media sources Tass/Sports Express/Championat
