Daniil Medvedev’s strong start to the 2026 season was quickly forgotten after his performance on Wednesday.
Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, defeated Medvedev 6-0, 6-0 on Court Rainier III at the Monte Carlo Masters.
This was the first time in Medvedev’s ATP career that he had been on the wrong end of such a scoreline.
Will Daniil Medvedev ever win another title on clay?
Daniil Medvedev lost 6-0, 6-0 for the very first time!
In fact, the Russian is one of only four top 10 players to lose 6-0, 6-0 since 1973.
Fabio Fognini, the compatriot of Berrettini and former Monte Carlo champion, has offered his thoughts on Medvedev’s unbelievable defeat, which has been described as ’embarrassing’ by Jamie Murray.
Fabio Fognini ‘can’t explain’ Daniil Medvedev’s 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini
“I want to find an adjective for the 6-0, 6-0 that we saw today with Matteo Berrettini against Daniil Medvedev,” Fognini said in an Instagram post. “We’re talking about a Medvedev who came in after an incredible start to the season.
“He had changed, he had won Brisbane, he had won Dubai. He made the semi-final [Indian Wells] beating Carlos Alcaraz and then the final against Jannik Sinner, 7-6, 7-6.
“And then he loses in 49 minutes against a Matteo who played unbelievably well, we’re all happy.
“And he said, ‘I prepared for this match in the best possible way, maybe it was the best match of my career from that point of view.’
“That’s all fine, but I’d like to know what happened.
“As a former professional, I can’t explain it. I would have put myself in the shoes of the crowd – of the crowd that surely came to watch an amazing match between two champions.
“And didn’t even get to see a set, one normal game from Medvedev. To me, that’s the saddest part.”
Medvedev will want to bounce back quickly. The Russian is not on the entry list for next week’s Barcelona Open, but could return to competitive play in Madrid.
Who was the biggest shock exit in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters?
Lorenzo Musetti, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Flavio Cobolli all lost!
If the Russian decides against participating in the Madrid Open, he could make his return in Rome.
Medvedev’s greatest clay-court success came at the 2023 Italian Open, where he won his first Masters 1000 title on clay.
Matteo Berrettini loses to Joao Fonseca in Monte Carlo
After defeating Medvedev in such incredible fashion, Berrettini contested a fourth-round match against Joao Fonseca.
Fonseca, tipped as a future star of the sport, defeated Berrettini 6-3, 6-2 on Court des Princes.
Reacting to the result, Fonseca said: “It is super special. I was looking for this result for a long time.
“Of course I want more. I am very confident and focused. I was very happy with the way I fought today. From the beginning, putting a lot of pressure.
“Playing huge return games and very good serve games. I was putting a lot of pressure and that helps you stay more calm during the match.”
Fonseca, the world number 40, will play Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final. Zverev, the new world number three, produced a stunning comeback to defeat Cristian Garin in the Monte Carlo fourth round.
The winner of Fonseca and Zverev will play either Jannik Sinner, Tomas Machac, Felix Auger-Aliassime or Casper Ruud in the Monte Carlo semi-finals.
