Daniil Medvedev may have to denounce Vladimir Putin to play at Wimbledon

As noted by the ATP website, Daniil Medvedev will hand the world No. 1 ranking he earned less than a full month ago back over to Novak Djokovic at least temporarily after the Russian fell to Gael Monfils at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday. 

Medvedev may soon have much bigger things to worry about. 

Per Reuters (h/t ESPN), Medvedev may have to give "assurances" he does not support Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing and controversial invasion of Ukraine if the 26-year-old wants to compete at Wimbledon. 

The summer Grand Slam is set to run from June 27 through July 10. 

"Many countries have agreed that they will not allow representatives from Russia to compete. There are also visa issues as well. When it comes to individuals, that is more complex," British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston explained on Tuesday. "Absolutely nobody flying the flag for Russia should be allowed or enabled."

Huddleston added: 

"We need some potential assurance that they are not supporters of Putin and we are considering what requirements we may need to try and get some assurances along those lines." 

Huddleston intends to discuss the matter with Wimbledon organizers. 

Medvedev and other Russian and Belarusian players have been permitted to continue competing on the ATP and WTA Tours but without having the names or flags associated with their countries officially linked with them. For example, Medvedev has no flag next to his name in the rankings shared on the ATP website. 

Russia has used Belarus as a staging area for forces and military hardware entering Ukraine.