VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM DANIIL MEDVEDEV, ANDREY RUBLEV, DIANA SHNAIDER AND ARYNA SABALENKA ON UKRAINIAN PLAYER OLEKSANDRA OLIYNYKOVA'S CALL FOR BAN ON RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN PLAYERS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 21, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA - See restrictions) 1. RUSSIAN TENNIS PLAYER DANIIL MEDVEDEV WALKING IN FOR PRESS CONFERENCE AND BEING SEATED 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIIL MEDVEDEV ON UKRAINIAN PLAYER OLEKSANDRA OLIYNYKOVA'S CALL TO BAN RUSSIAN PLAYERS FROM TOURNAMENT, SAYING: "Yeah, I mean, in general, I respect all the opinions of all the people I try to. I mean, on the court, actually a bit different, right? But outside the court, I respect all the opinions, but that's her opinion, and honestly, I don't have anything to say about it. Well, as I just said, 100% understand and respect, because that's something you can do, basically, especially in sports. It's even maybe a bit easier than for other people. I never really considered this because I believe in where you are born is important and politics and other stuff is a bit different. So I never considered this, but again, zero, like, I mean, a lot of players change and I'm friends with them. I'm friends with a lot of players in the locker room, so it's their choice." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN TENNIS PLAYER ANDREY RUBLEV, SAYING: "It was today? No, first of all, I didn't know this, and I guess I don't know what to say, because everyone, I guess, can say whatever they want. That's why they have a platform. That's why you have, yeah, interviews. So you share your feelings, you share what you feel, and it's just whatever, whoever has his own platform, he shares their own feelings. So I think, yes, they can." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN TENNIS PLAYER DIANA SHNAIDER, SAYING: "Yeah, again, I haven't seen what statement she made. And I don't know what was her intention there, to be honest. Me personally, I'm here just to play tennis, just do my job, show some great tennis, enjoy the crowd, enjoy the atmosphere, the first Grand Slam of the year. And that's what I'm here to do, just win as many matches as I can and show great tennis." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELARUSIAN TENNIS STAR ARYNA SABALENKA, SAYING: "Well, I've spoken a lot about that before, obviously. I want peace. And if I could change anything, I would definitely do that. Other than that, I have nothing else to say." 10. WHITE FLASH 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELARUSIAN TENNIS STAR ARYNA SABALENKA, SAYING: "Listen, I'm here for tennis. It's a tennis event. And I've said enough in the past and just don't want to talk politics here." 12. WHITE FLASH 13. SABALENKA LEAVING PRESSER STORY: Russian tennis players offered measured responses to Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova's call for their exclusion from international tournaments, with world-ranked stars saying they respect differing opinions - but they are focusing on the ongoing Australian Open tournament. Daniil Medvedev, responding to Oliynykova's criticism of players competing in exhibitions sponsored by Russian oil giant Gazprom, after his second-round win at Melbourne Park on Wednesday (January 21) kept his reply brief: "Yeah, I mean, in general, I respect all the opinions of all the people. But that's her opinion, and honestly, I don't have anything to say about it." Russian flags are banned at Melbourne Park as part of measures imposed by Tennis Australia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Oliynykova had also condemned Russian players' participation in events linked to companies with ties to the Ukraine conflict. When asked about fellow Russian players switching nationalities, Medvedev said he "100% understand and respect" their choices but ruled it out for himself. Andrey Rublev admitted he hadn't seen Oliynykova's morning statements but took a philosophical approach: "Everyone, I guess, can say whatever they want. That's why they have platform. So you share your feelings, you share what you feel." Women stars Russian Diana Shnaider and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, also targeted in Oliynykova's criticism, kept their response minimal, saying they are in Australia for tennis and not politics. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo) (The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
