Of course, it is true that Daniil Medvedev is aggressive and produces very inconsistent results. And yes, he evokes a wide range of emotions depending on the situation and his audience. entertainment, bemuse, anger, righteous anger, and the occasional tantrum are all part of the normal fan experience. He’s a leading reel in action, but unlike other players whose antics seem to be planned for maximum effect, in Medvedev’s case it just happens.
Of course, there is no space in this entry to describe every notable moment, but I will list a few of my favorites:
L2 + Leftover Dead Fish: There was his reaction to winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021 against Novak Djokovic, who was seeking a calendar Slam. The Med won in straight sets and gave the Dead Fish a celebration (?), surely the most gripping Grand Slam title reaction of all time:
Alves Wishes Well: Her 2017 loss to Ruben Bemelmans at Wimbledon, where she wasted a controversial match against Mariana Alves over calls against her. He tried to get it out but failed. After the game, he took the coins out of his bag and threw them under his seat.
Little Cat: And my personal favorite, his…argument? monologue? with chair umpire Jaume Campistol at the 2022 Australian Open after taking over on-court coaching from Stefanos Tsitsipas’ (then unofficial) father. “Are you stupid??? CAN DADDY TALK ALL THE POINTS???!” Medvedev got angry for a moment, won the match (despite Apostolos Tsitsipas’ fouls), and when the match was over, he chose “It should be a code violation. If you don’t do that you’re a….how do you call it….little cat.” Apply. A small cat.
And now he gave us another gem today in Rotterdam. fury over the TOP tennis balls used in competition, sometimes found to be non-round. He dropped bombs, karate kicked the wall and told the tournament official to hurry because he had a plane to catch.
And then the piece de resistance – “These balls are made for people who like to please… People who like to please with just a little saliva. Just a little.”
I agree. I had to watch this a few times to make sure I heard what I heard. I could have said out loud “Did you just say WE LIVE?” Yes. The answer is yes. He spat. He also lost to Ugo Humbert of France. I think the ATP will want to fine him, but like the little cat encounter, it’s hard to prove he meant anything offensive. As the operative word is “prove” as I’m sure he meant what you think he meant.
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that he’s entertaining – even when he loses. Maybe a LOT when he loses.
