Exhibition in Russia: Medvedev, Bublik, Shnaider... a participation that causes scandal as the war in Ukraine rages

While the war in Ukraine continues, several tennis figures are preparing to step onto Russian courts for a controversial exhibition. Behind the event, a sponsor that disturbs: Gazprom.

By Jules Hypolite

le 24/11/2025 à 19h09

Bahrami Bublik Griekspoor Khachanov Kudermetova Medvedev Potapova Putintseva Shnaider Tipsarevic Youzhny

The event is already causing controversy. While the war in Ukraine continues, several male and female players have confirmed their participation in the Trophées de la Palmyre du Nord, an exhibition organized in Saint Petersburg (November 29-30).

Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Alexander Bublik, Mikhail Youzhny, Veronika Kudermetova, Diana Shnaider, Yulia Putintseva as well as Tallon Griekspoor, present due to his relationship with Anastasia Potapova, are among the announced participants.

The teams will be led by two well-known captains: Janko Tipsarevic and Mansour Bahrami.

If the event is generating so many reactions, it is largely because it is funded by Gazprom, a major player in the Russian economy and regularly singled out for its role in the Kremlin's war effort.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukrainian territory in 2022, no ATP or WTA tournament has been organized on Russian soil. Russian and Belarusian players, who are allowed to compete on the tour, continue to compete under a neutral flag.