Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev join Novak Djokovic in Belgrade player field



by DZEVAD MESIC

Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev join Novak Djokovic in Belgrade player field

Russia's Andrey Rublev and Aslan Karatsev have signed up to play Belgrade this year, according to Sasa Ozmo. Rublev, ranked at No. 6 in the world, didn't play in Belgrade last year. On the other side, his fellow compatriot Karatsev did make his Belgrade debut and he fell just short of winning it all at the tournament.

Karatsev enjoyed a strong Belgrade run as he made the final, before losing to Matteo Berrettini. Karatsev produced a major upset in the Belgrade semifinal as he beat home favorite and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Karatsev could meet Djokovic again in Belgrade as the world No.

1 has also been confirmed for the event.

Rublev, Karatsev hope they don't get banned

Some have been calling for Russian players to be banned from competing in international events.

Rublev gave his thoughts on the matter in Indian Wells. “We don’t see our family. Many of the athletes, they change home because of the conditions of the sport," Rublev said in Indian Wells. “I think sport should be outside of politics because everyone says this, but in the end looks like still it’s not happening.

“That’s why I hope that in sport they will show there is no politics and we will be a good example to have a huge step forward”. After one of his wins in Dubai, Rublev wrote on the camera lens: "No War Please." "I don’t know, I was not even thinking how many people will see this or where it will go.

I just wrote what I feel in that moment," Rublev said. “That’s it. After this, somehow it gets over 22 million views. “I think I was one of the first sportsmen in the world who say this. In the end all the messages I start to receive, almost 100%, all of them were only positive, like ‘thank you,’ stuff like that”. The Belgrade event is scheduled to take place between April 18-24.

Andrey Rublev Aslan Karatsev Novak Djokovic