Daniil Medvedev secured his first win of the year in Dubai on Wednesday, defeating Juncheng Shang to advance at the UAE event.
Medvedev recently suffered an early exit at the Qatar Open after issuing a complaint to a tournament supervisor.
However, he has bounced back quickly in Dubai, defeating Shang 6-1, 6-3.
The Russian, a former world number one, will play Stan Wawrinka in the next round after the Swiss legend defeated Benjamin Hassan in his opening match.
Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray… who is the greater player? Let us know why below 👇
After defeating Shang in Dubai, Medvedev discussed the ups and downs of life on Tour for a professional tennis player.
Daniil Medvedev says tennis fans still don’t understand the effects of travel and competition on players
During his post-match press conference, Medvedev was asked to pinpoint what tennis fans still do not understand about being a professional tennis player.
Medvedev replied: “Yeah, that’s a very good question because I think, first of all, it’s very complex, right? In general, let’s say doesn’t matter sportsman or not, tennis player or not, what’s very tough for people, me as well, is to put yourself in somebody’s shoes. That’s very tough.
“Of course, what people first see is we’re playing in front of thousands of people, we’re getting good money, especially those of course in the top 50 and top 100. And the first thought is like, Okay, why are they complaining at all? Like, they should not.
“It’s the same in every sport.
“Then, of course, what people don’t see, it’s not the pressure. Pressure, everyone has it. For example, if we speak about tennis, it’s the toll the travel plus competition brings on you.
“Even meaning, coming from Doha to Dubai, it’s very short. The balls are different, the courts are different. Let’s say stupid things. The hotel is different, the bed is different, the pillow is different.
“That all is a little bit tough for your body. You don’t feel it, like, constantly. But imagine doing this 40 times a year, and we do.
“The time change and of course the food change. The food in every country’s different, in every site. All of this would be easy to handle if you wouldn’t have a match to play the next day against an opponent that wants to win as much as you. And if you don’t win, you lose and you feel I am bad.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“I think that’s what people don’t exactly understand about tennis, and that is why sometimes upset happen. Like you can come somewhere, you never going to tell it to someone, but you got food poisoning, which is not that big to retire, but big enough to make you in a bad shape.
“You’re going to lose a match. Everyone is going to be like, What the hell? You are just food poisoning. I think that’s what tough in tennis, the travel, plus willingness to win and stuff like this.”
Medvedev is set to play Stan Wawrinka later on Wednesday. Medvedev has a 3-2 record against the Swiss star, last beating Wawrinka at the 2025 Rotterdam Open.
Daniil Medvedev’s projected path to Dubai glory
- Round of 16: Stan Wawrinka
- Quarter-finals: Karen Khachanov / Jenson Brooksby
- Semi-finals: Felix Auger-Aliassime / Jiri Lehecka / Arthur Fils
- Final: Alexander Bublik / Jack Draper / Jakub Mensik
Wawrinka, who is set to retire at the end of this campaign, has produced some scintillating tennis at the start of 2026 and has already risen back into the world’s top 100-ranked players.
As for Medvedev, he won his first tournament of the year in Brisbane before suffering early exits in Melbourne, Rotterdam and Qatar.
Stan Wawrinka previews match with Medvedev
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will face Medvedev for the sixth time on the ATP Tour when the pair step onto the court on Wednesday.
As per Tennis Temple, Wawrinka said: “Yes, indeed, we’ve played each other a lot. He’s always tough to face, and it’s his last year on tour, so I’m thrilled to be able to play him again.
“He’s a really nice guy, and it will be an interesting match.”
The winner of Wawrinka and Medvedev will play Karen Khachanov or Jenson Brooksby in the quarter-finals.
Wawrinka, 40, also made a bold statement ahead of his match with Medvedev, saying if Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s current level is better than the ‘Big Three.’
