Daniil Medvedev is trying with all his might to return to being that player capable of winning a Grand Slam title (at the 2021 US Open) and climbing to the top of the ATP rankings, but his results have not been brilliant even this season. The Russian ace has not won a title for more than two years and has moved far away from the top positions of the ATP rankings, seeing all the goals he had set himself at the beginning of his career vanish.
After disappointing expectations at the 2025 US Open, the champion from Moscow made a courageous choice by interrupting his professional relationship with his coach Gilles Cervara (after eight years of collaboration) and starting a new chapter in his career.
The former world No.1 showed some encouraging signs during the Beijing ATP 500, where he reached the semifinals for the third year in a row while also beating world No.3 Alexander Zverev. Daniil came within one game of victory against young American star Learner Tien in the semifinals, before suffering the latter's sensational comeback and having to retire in the third set due to injury.
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Medvedev was brilliant
Medvedev got off to a good start to his run at the Shanghai Masters 1000, having dropped just two games to world number 91 Dalibor Svrcina in a match dominated from start to finish. The conditions in Shanghai are quite extreme in this edition, also due to the humidity that is putting a strain on the resistance of the players.
"It had never happened before and I must admit that it is hard to play in these conditions" - said the Russian to the microphones of 'Championat'. "There have already been numerous withdrawals and many medical time-outs in these first days of the tournament, the situation is quite worrying. I'm happy to have played my first match here in the night session and to have won with ease" he added.
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Daniil's next opponent in the prestigious Chinese tournament will be Spanish ace Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
