Daniil Medvedev is one of those "love 'em or hate 'em" type of characters on either of the professional tennis tours. On one hand, you have to admire the way he's handled some of the crowds and fans in the fashion only Medvedev can, and it makes you laugh. On the other hand, you could also question his status as an elite tennis player and whether he's underachieved on the big stage.
For a period, Medvedev was one of the top players on the ATP tour, which included six Grand Slam finals, but just one title. He's spent six consecutive years in the top ten of the ATP rankings, ranking as high as No.1 for a time.
Once thought of as a serious threat in any event, Medvedev's 2025 season has played out every which way that is the opposite of threatening, and with the US Open only days away, it's fair to question whether he can return to his 2021 form, where he won his only major on the very same American hard court.
Meltdowns in previous events spell bad news for Daniil Medvedev's future ones
Medvedev's strengths that carried him to 11 tour titles after his US Open win in '21, and, really, the strengths that made Medvedev a threat to any top-ranked player in recent years, have seemingly all but evaded him since last year.
Like this year so far, '24 was also a winless year for Medvedev. Those strengths, such as his towering serve and knack for playing close to almost errorless tennis, have suffered a turning of the tables-esque reality, where Medvedev's serve has largely failed him this year, and his errors are in abundance.
In addition to his failing on-court weapons, Medvedev has also suffered from some dramatic mental and emotional lapses. In Cincinnati earlier this week, the Russian fell in three sets to Adam Walton—a match Medvedev had no business dropping.
In Toronto, Medvedev was clearly fed up with the world and walked off the court after losing to Alexei Popyrin, leaving his bag and rackets for the ball boy to pick up. Going back further, the Citi Open in Washington was a forgettable performance, and his first-round exit at Wimbledon was dreadful.
So, what has happened to Medvedev? He could just be going through the throes of mental and emotional fatigue. Or, it's something bigger. The past two years have not been kind to Medvedev, having not won a single title since Rome in '23.
Then again, Medvedev has always carried with him an attitude and has never been shy to express himself on the court. The only difference between the present and the past is that he was winning in the past, but coming up short again and again in the present—his attitude remains the same in both eras.
The US Open kicks off next week, and Medvedev will return to the scene of his only Grand Slam victory. Whatever phase he is in now, whether a lull in his career or a fork in the road—which way you want to surmise it, Medvedev is one of the few players on the ATP tour to have competed head-to-head with the Big 3 and the new crop of young stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Surely, his experience should still make him a threat to anyone, no matter the struggles that this year has brought upon him. Wherever Medvedev is in his head, it will come out even more in Flushing Meadows. For good or for bad, we'll find out.