Daniil Medvedev makes bizarre request post-match after battling past Karen Khachanov in Monte-Carlo Masters opener

Daniil Medvedev battled past cramps and overcame Karen Khachanov to move into the Monte-Carlo Masters second round.

Daniil Medvedev makes bizarre request post-match after battling past Karen Khachanov in Monte-Carlo Masters opener

Daniil Medvedev received treatment on his thigh after Monte-Carlo Masters' first-round win (Image via X/Mario Boccardi, Bastien Fachan)

Daniil Medvedev suffered from cramps during his first-round match against compatriot Karen Khachanov at the Monte-Carlo Masters they played on Monday (April 7). Medvedev also received a time violation warning when was limping during the third set.

The match with 17 breaks of serve and which lasted for two hours and 51 minutes, saw Medvedev triumph over Khachanov. Medvedev then made a bizarre request to the chair umpire after the match. He was struggling with thigh cramps, but instead of taking a medical timeout during the match, he requested the chair umpire to call for a physio following his win.

Medvedev squandered a 5-1 lead in the first set. But though he recovered well in time to clinch the set, he again failed to capitalize on his 4-1 lead in the second set, and this time, the set ended in favor of Khachanov.

The third set was no different, but Medvedev, despite struggling, was not ready to give up. He began incorporating different shots into the decider and eventually came out on top with a scoreline of 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

With this win, Medvedev avenged his defeat to Khachanov in last year’s Monte-Carlo Masters third round. Following the match, Medvedev once again made his feelings known about playing on clay, which is, as the entire tennis world knows, not his favorite surface at all.

It’s the first match on clay. Not my favorite surface.

Daniil Medvedev said in his post-match interview

Daniil Medvedev reveals what he found different in Monte-Carlo Masters courts

Daniil Medvedev has won only one title on clay, the 2023 Italian Open. Although he has often ranted about playing on the surface, he harshly criticized the courts of Indian Wells. Ahead of kick-starting his campaign in Monaco, Medvedev compared the courts of Indian Wells and Miami Open to that of the Monte Carlo Masters courts.

Daniil Medvedev 1
Daniil Medvedev (Image via /Meddy Family)

This year it’s pretty funny because I came away after Indian Wells and Miami and I felt that both were pretty slow, even if Miami is faster. I came on clay and I swear I do not see any difference except sliding and the bounce is higher – sometimes a bad bounce. Sliding is for sure different in terms of movement but the speed, I would say it’s almost faster than hard courts right now.

Daniil Medvedev said (via the Monte Carlo Masters YouTube channel)

The 2021 US Open champion is chasing his first title since winning the 2023 Italian Open. His inconsistent performance was the reason why the former World No.1 dropped to the 11th spot in the rankings for the first time since 2023.

So far in the season, Medvedev produced his best when he progressed to the semifinals of Indian Wells where he lost to runner-up Holger Rune. Following the Masters 1000 event in the California desert, the Russian fell in his first match of the Miami Open.

Daniil Medvedev will lock horns with Alexandre Muller in the second round

Medvedev will now be hoping to make a deep run in The Principality. His second-round opponent is Alexandre Muller, who knocked out Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the previous round.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via /Meddy Family)

Medvedev has locked horns with Muller just once and won that match. They had met in the second round of 2024 Wimbledon, where the 29-year-old clinched the victory in four sets.

If Medvedev reaches the quarterfinals, he could set up a blockbuster clash with two-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion Novak Djokovic. Medvedev is 5-10 against the Serb in their head-to-head meetings. He is projected to square off against defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals and World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.