Daniil Medvedev - Top 10 Most Iconic Moments

October 9, 2022

ATP Tennis Players, Daniil Medvedev, Tennis News

Daniil Medvedev – Top 10 Most Iconic Moments

Daniil Medvedev is nothing if not entertaining, both as a player and as a character, mixing unorthodox technique with a straightforward demeanour.

Though he will hopefully enjoy a long career ahead of him, allow Tennishead to remind you of some of the most most iconic moments of his career so far.

10. ‘This is gonna be on Tennis TV bro!’ – Daniil Medvedev bemused by umpire call

Facing Alexander Bublik at the 2021 Toronto Masters, something unusual was bound to occur. And so it did in the final set as Medvedev apologised midpoint for nearly taking the Kazakhstani out with a smash.

The chair umpire then called hindrance for speaking during the point. The moment left both men bemused. Bublik was even initially clueless that the call was made against Medvedev and not him.

9. Daniil Medvedev gives fans ‘something new’ with no celebration approach

With tennis shifting between generations, fans are hungry for new personalities. As ever, Medvedev has taken an unorthodox approach to giving said fans what they want.

“So I gave them something new,” he explained at the 2019 Shanghai Masters. “I don’t celebrate my wins, I just stay calm, I do my job and bam done.

“I said it kind of during the US Open or after Cincinnati I decided it’s going to be my thing.”

True to his word Medvedev has been subdued with every title win since. That has included his 2021 US Open title and three more Masters 1000 crowns to add to Cincinnati 2019.

8. The pantomime villain of the 2019 US Open

The 2019 US Open is where the name Daniil Medvedev really marked the biggest stage. He developed an intriguing relationship with the New York crowd on his run to the final.

After taunting the crowd when facing Feliciano Lopez, he kept the controversy going in his post-match interview.

“Thank you all guys, because your energy tonight gave me the win,” he said while being booed.

“If you were not here I would probably lose the match because I was so tired. I was cramping yesterday, it was so tough on me to play. So I want all of you to know, when you’re asleep tonight, I won because of you.”

Medvedev softened his feelings as the tournament went on. The crowd responded likewise. In the final the Russian found himself two sets to love down against Rafael Nadal. Despite the dire situation, he fought back to force a fifth. During the trophy ceremony, Medvedev credited the crowd for giving him the energy to fight back and prolong the battle.

7. Clay theatrics

Daniil Medvedev has quite the accolades on the hard courts of the tennis globe. But a clay court grinder he is not. In the past the top talent has been outspoken on his disdain for the surface. Moreover, his actions and results on the red dirt suggest as much.

In his first four appearances at the French Open Medvedev failed to win a single match. He broke that streak by reaching the quarter-finals in 2021 before backing it up with a fourth round appearance the next year.

Still, the Russian has his struggles on clay. In particular, the 2021 European clay swing threw out some gems from the entertainer.

CONFIRMED: @DaniilMedwed does NOT like playing on clay ?#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/8fT4z03q2k

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 5, 2021

In Madrid the then world number three had difficulty putting away Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The next week in Rome Medvedev could not find his feet against Aslan Karatsev, both literally and figuratively. Compatriot Andrey Rublev watched and laughed from the stands at his friend’s antics.

6. Cramping his way to victory at the 2021 Miami Open

Professional tennis famously does not allow for medical timeouts in instances of cramping. As a result, this Miami Open battle between Daniil Medvedev and Alexei Popyrin brought presented a rare moment in the sport.

Medvedev squandered three match points in the second set before Popyrin pushed the match to a decider. Up 4-3 on his serve, Medvedev began to cramp, and quite severely at that. So much so that it left him hobbling between points as he fought to serve out the match. He did everything he could to lessen the pain, including pacing back and forth at the change of ends instead of sitting down.

Astoundingly he succeeded, closing out the win 6-4. He described the victory immediately after as ‘one of the sweetest’ in his career.

5. How others describe Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev leaves an impression on pretty much everyone. That includes his colleagues on the tour. A number of ATP pros were asked to describe him in one word. While you might expect terms like ‘tenacious’ and ‘tricky’, a number opted for more unusual descriptions…

4. A not so serious sound check

Daniil Medvedev is always media ready and will answer almost any question with honesty. He proved as much during this Tennis TV interview…

When you think the interview sound check is the real thing…

Lovely breakfast though, @DaniilMedwed ?#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/081IusWySW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 24, 2021

3. Camera collision

While we at Tennishead do not condone the following behaviour, it certainly made for interesting viewing. Daniil Medvedev famously returns serves from ridiculously deep in the court.

That put him in danger in Cincinnati in 2021. During the event TV cameras sat on the court at the back in front of the stands rather than the usual placement above and behind a barrier. Facing Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals, Medvedev collided with a camera as he tried to chase down a ball.

After the expensive equipment toppled to the court, Medvedev was noticeably flustered. He remonstrated with the umpire that he could have ‘broken his hand’, before kicking the camera in the lens out of frustration.

2. ‘Man you better shut your fk up!’ – A clash with ‘small kid’ Tsitsipas**

Arguably the internet’s favourite Medvedev moment came between him and Stefanos Tsitsipas. In their first ever tour meeting, the duo faced off in the first round of the 2018 Miami Open.

Ranked 52nd at the time, Medvedev downed the 70th ranked Greek 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. A rant ensued after the match after something Tsitsipas said. ‘Bulls**t Russian’ according to Medvedev. See for yourself.

1. US Open triumph – Daniil Medvedev flops

As mentioned, Daniil Medvedev decided in 2019 that he would not celebrate on championship points. But for the biggest title of his career he had to make one exception. That moment came when he defeated Novak Djokovic to win the 2021 US Open.

As the Serb’s return fell into the net, so Medvedev flopped to the floor like a fish, mouth agape. He later explained the moment as replicating a FIFA video game celebration to close out his trophy acceptance speech.