Indian Wells 2022 - Chris Evert hails Daniil Medvedev as world No. 1 and sympathises over Russia-Ukraine situation

Chris Evert admits she has some sympathy for the uncertainty surrounding Daniil Medvedev as the Russian aims to bolster his position as a 'deserving' world number one at Indian Wells over the next fortnight. The reigning US Open champion’s rise to the summit of men’s tennis coincided with his country’s invasion of the Ukraine and led to both the ATP and WTA ruling that individuals cannot compete on Tour under the country’s flag.

Ad/> Medvedev admitted it is difficult for him to focus on tennis given the context of the current crisis and Eurosport expert Evert acknowledges that the tricky situation is far from ideal for any of the stars that have been affected. Tennis'Very important decision' — Djokovic must get next coach right, says Corretja6 HOURS AGO Gauff speaks out against Florida 'Don't say gay' bill 'The worst moment of my life' — Zverev regrets Acapulco actions Indian Wells preview: Medvedev, Murray, Nadal and Osaka — what to expect in California “I feel for any of the players who have come from that part of the world and who have family and roots, whether it's in Russia or Ukraine or Belarus,” said Evert in an exclusive conversation with Eurosport.

“It's got to be a big burden for these players to carry around while they're trying to compete. In order to compete at the highest level, you usually have to be focused on your tennis, and this isn't the case.

So, we have to have some understanding if these players don't exactly do as well as they're used to, that there's just so many more important things going on in their life than a tennis match. “In saying that, I think Medvedev, with his record, does deserve to be number one.