Daniil Medvedev Admits Battling Self-Doubt After US Open Exit: “I Need to Become More Consistent”

Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the US Open after a 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6) defeat to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round of the US Open. The champion at Flushing Meadows in 2021, Medvedev’s Grand Slam campaign this season ended in the fourth round.

His win over Novak Djokovic at the 2021 US Open remains his lone Grand Slam title. Medvedev has also played five Major finals, last reaching the stage in 2024, which he lost despite a two-sets-to-love lead against World No.1 Jannik Sinner. Since then, he has reached one Major semifinal. At the press conference after his latest defeat, when the Russian ace was asked whether he is getting closer to winning Grand Slams again, he admitted that he is currently battling self-doubt.

In tennis, anything can happen in the matter of a couple of weeks. Sometimes it is magic, and there are magical stories like [Valentin] Vacherot winning Shanghai, which is still unbelievable. He’s a great player, but it’s still unbelievable. There are many stories like this, so anything can happen. At this moment, I guess I am doubting myself a little bit.

Medvedev has played three finals this season. He first won the Brisbane International by beating Brandon Nakashima, then received a walkover from Tallon Griekspoor at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Later at Indian Wells, Sinner denied him the win.

In the case of today’s match, we can talk about Frances, and we can talk about me, but the reality is that I lost three sets to love, and I know I can play ten times better than I did. Was it a bad match? No. But I know I can play so much better, and if I want to win Grand Slams, then I need to play so much better, and that is basically it. I do believe that I can because I have shown it from time to time on a tennis court, but I need to become more consistent and play better more times.

Daniil Medvedev added

Before arriving at Flushing Meadows, the former World No.1 lost in the early rounds of every warm-up event. After his opening-round exit in Montreal, he suffered a third-round exit at the Cincinnati Masters and an opening-round exit in Winston-Salem.

Daniil Medvedev reflects on his match against Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe reached the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2025 French Open. Before his fourth-round match, he had clinched just one win over Daniil Medvedev.

Tiafoe, who now has a 2-6 head-to-head record over the 30-year-old, will face compatriot Alex Michelsen next. The 28-year-old has a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head matchups versus Michelsen.

He is tied at 1-1 in the head-to-head matchups versus Medvedev this year, as the latter clinched the win when they met in the fourth round of the Brisbane International. Medvedev, at the post-match press conference, explained what went wrong.

I think I should have played better in some moments of the match. I should have made better shots, better decisions, actually. And that’s what made the difference in important moments. He made probably a better decision or a better shot. Because in general I had my chances. I should have won the first set. I could have won the third.

Tiafoe has already played three finals this year. He lost the Mexican Open to Flavio Cobolli and the Cincinnati Masters to Arthur Fils. But in Halle, he beat compatriot Taylor Fritz to end his title drought. It was his first title since the 2023 Stuttgart Open.

Also read: Jessica Pegula Claps Back at “Future” Claims After Reaching 2026 US Open Quarterfinals