Tennis News: Daniil Medvedev on the most recent Russian ban 

Due to their invasion of Ukraine and the current conflict, Russia is prohibited from participating in the team competition; however, Medvedev will launch his Australian campaign in Adelaide at the ATP 250 event.

In addition, Medvedev and his compatriots were prohibited from competing at Wimbledon last year due to the decision to bar Russian and Belarusian players following the invasion of Ukraine.

Medvedev has admitted that he would prefer to compete in the United Cup while he prepares for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of 2023.

"I would definitely prefer to play the United Cup," he said.

"We would be good favourites. But it is what it is, and I'm happy to be here in Adelaide playing in this tournament. I completely understand why we are not playing Davis Cup or United Cup and team competitions where we would represent our country. "Hopefully, I can play the individual events. I play what I can, so here I can play Adelaide, and I'm pleased about it. I want to show my best tennis."

Medvedev could face Novak Djokovic in Adelaide after the two were drawn in the same half, raising the possibility of a replay of the 2021 US Open final.

"I'm motivated to be in the (Adelaide) semis — and if it's Novak there, it's great," Medvedev added.

"If somebody else beats him, I don't care much. I want to be in the semi-finals to start, and I don't care who I play.

"I feel like everybody is a little bit nervous, and that's normal. This feeling of the first tournament of the year is really special."

"I like playing in Australia, so looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Belarus' world no five Aryna Sabalenka has admitted she missed Wimbledon last year and suggested the ban on players from her nation did not help the political crisis in Ukraine."

"We're just athletes playing their sport. That's it. We're not about politics. If all of us could do something [about the war], we would do it, but we have zero control," she told the Australian newspaper The Age."

"They banned us from Wimbledon, and what did it change? Nothing – they are (Russian government) are still doing this, and this is the sad [part] of this situation."

Sabalenka responded passionately when asked about her absence from Wimbledon last summer.

"It was a tough time. I was super disappointed with their decision," she said.

"I really missed the people because the atmosphere at Wimbledon is super amazing. You can feel these people really love tennis there, and I really miss them. I really hope that I'll play there [in 2023], just because of the people, to feel this atmosphere. But if they're going to ban us again… I don't care about Wimbledon's decision. The only thing I'll miss is the people."