Former six-time Grand Slam champion Rennae Stubbs refused to directly criticize Daniil Medvedev over signing up for the St. Petersburg exhibition, but noted that she was "surprised" by the 2021 US Open champion's decision.
Earlier this week, a list of players competing at the Northern Palmyra Trophies was released. It includes several well-known ATP and WTA names – Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Alexander Bublik, Tallon Griekspoor, former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny, Diana Shnaider, Veronika Kudermetova, Anastasia Potapova and Yulia Putintseva. Janko Tipsarevic and Mansour Bahrami will also be a part of the event as they will serve as team captains.
Since 2022, St. Petersburg has been hosting an exhibition late in the year. This year, the Northern Palmyra Trophies is returning for its fourth consecutive edition and will take place between November 29-30.
After the St. Petersburg player field was revealed, the participants faced certain criticism. However, neither of them did anything illegal by signing up for a Russian exhibition because they are "verified contractors" and have the right to sign up to play wherever they want.
Stubbs: I'm a little surprised about Medvedev going to the St. Petersburg exhibition
"I am a little surprised about Medvedev, especially because he was invited last year and said no. I’m also surprised about Karen Khachanov. As far as I know… My Russian knowledge is not the most in-depth, he is from an ethnic minority group, like how the Safins and Dinara Safina are Tatars. And I’m not sure where that group stands with the Kremlin, but I believe they're somewhat opposite politically. So I’m surprised," Stubbs said on her podcast.
"I'm not trying to give anybody an out. I don’t know Medvedev’s personal politics. But he lives in France most of the time, speaks fluent French, and I believe he’s officially a citizen of Monaco. I don’t think he spends a ton of time in Russia. Anyway… Those are my comments."
While St. Petersburg was hosting an ATP tournament, Medvedev regularly played there and made five consecutive appearances at the tournament between 2016 and 2020. The Russian tennis star won the title there in 2019.
