The exhibition match between the Russians Daniel Medvedevnumber one in the ATP ranking, and Andrew Rublevseventh, initially scheduled for March 21 in Mexico City, was postponed to March 20, 2023, the organizers reported this Sunday. “Due to all the current circumstances in the world, and In consideration of all the parties involved, the organization of the ‘Tennis Showdown Mexico’ (along with the players), we have decided that it is not the time to carry out this exhibition game.”the directors explained in a press release.
In the statement, it was assured that Medvedev and Rublev promised to play this duel in 2023 since “they are excited to come to Mexico City.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 24 has generated various sanctions and expulsions of Russian athletes in various competitions, something that could have been the cause of the postponement.
This is the second postponement suffered by the so-called ‘Tennis Showdown Mexico’, which was originally going to be played in September 2021 with a confrontation between Rublev and the Austrian Dominic Thiem, who canceled due to an injury to his right wrist. The billboard on March 21, which would take place at the Mexico City Arena, would also include the participation of Mexican tennis players, among which a mixed doubles match between Renata Zarazúa and Santiago González stands out against Guiliana Olmos and Gerardo López.
The friendly match between the Russians would continue with the tennis party in Mexico, which in recent weeks saw the Acapulco Open, won by the Spanish Rafael Nadal; the Zapopan tournament of the WTA, in which the American Sloane Sthepens reigned, and the Monterrey Open of the WTA, in which the Canadian Leylah Fernández triumphed. In addition, on Saturday the Spanish Fernando Verdasco, a semifinalist at the 2009 Australian Open, defeated India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran to win the ATP Challenge in Monterrey.
