Is Daniil Medvedev back? The surly Russian triumphed in Dubai in slightly anticlimactic fashion, with would-be opponent Tallon Griekspoor withdrawing ahead of the final due to an injury sustained against Rublev in the semis (one Russian helping another).
Medvedev has now won two titles this season, adding the ATP 500 Dubai crown to the ATP 250 he nabbed in Brisbane. Could this be the start of a mid-career renaissance for the Russian? Is he finally at peace with himself and his place in the broader tennis pantheon? If so, I see no reason why he couldn’t become a Grand Slam threat once again.
Medvedev leading the 90’s charge
Male tennis players born in the 90’s had the unenviable task of trying to make their Grand Slam bones in the heyday of the so-called ‘Big-Three’. Isn’t it crazy that Nishikori, Dimitrov, Raonic, Zverev and Tsitsipas don’t have one Grand Slam title between them? Medvedev is one of only two players born in the 90’s to have won a slam! Let that sink in. Who is the other, you may ask? Dominic Theim. Remember him? Thiem won the 2020 US Open without having to play any of the ‘Big Three’: Roger was injured; Rafa withdrew due to Covid concerns; Djokovic was ejected for hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball. Medvedev pulled off a minor miracle with his 2021 US Open victory, thrashing Djokovic in straight sets to deprive the Serb of a calendar slam. He has proven to be a real force at Grand Slam level, reaching another five finals with his flat, counterpunching style.
The Rise of Sinneraz disrupts the Russian
So, with Nadal and Federer retiring, surely it was time for Medvedev to finally cash in on all that Grand Slam goodwill. But he was caught in the headlights of another tennis epoch, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner elevating the game to new physical and technical levels. And Medvedev’s ultra-defensive game was ruthlessly exposed by this new era of jumbo hitting and on-court dexterity. Sinner’s power has been too much for Medvedev, denying him the time to turn defence into attack. Alcaraz has exploited Medvedev’s deeper court position, using his all-time drop-shot to mangle Medvedev’s positioning. And he suffered dreadfully last season, winning just one of five matches in his worst Grand Slam campaign since the start of his career.
Temper Tantrums
Medvedev has always been known for being a tad temperamental (or downright miserable). Smiles don’t come easy for the Russian and he has a knack for an on-court meltdown (think the 2022 Aussie Open final against Nadal). But his woeful form culminated in a meltdown for the ages at last year’s US Open, as Medvedev capitulated in embarrassing style in his 2nd round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi. It felt like the exclamation point in a massive downturn of a season. Honestly, I thought that we might have witnessed the end of him as a force in the game (Almaty Open win aside).
Adapt to survive
But the Russian has taken some bold steps to reclaim his place in the upper echelons of the game, replacing his entire coaching staff while pivoting away somewhat from the counterpunching approach that we have become accustomed to. He has looked to be more aggressive, taking the initiative in points on faster surfaces. That new front-foot mindset has reaped massive benefits with title-winning runs in Brisbane and Dubai. Sure, he was trounced by Learner Tien in the 4th round of the Aussie Open. But he’s already won two more Grand Slam matches then he won in the entirety of 2025. He also just pulled off a career first in Dubai, becoming a multiple winner of an event for the first time in his career. That’s quite insane when you realize he has now won 23 singles titles. Curiously, compatriot Andrey Rublev also took forever to double-up in an event, managing to do it with his 16th singles title. But I digress.
Looking forward
The fact that he was able to use his experience to finally reclaim a title is proof positive that he is going in the right direction. It could also point to shift in mentality, highlighting an increased self-belief in an arena in which he has thrived in the past. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the coming months. He is scheduled to play next at Indian Wells, where he was the beaten finalist in 2023 and 2024. However, he is struggling to get out of Dubai due to the recent Middle East turmoil. Obviously, there are vastly more important things in the world right now, but it would be fascinating to see how he would fare in this year’s Sunshine Double.
