Daniil Medvedev Clarifies the Reason for Dodging Australian Open Pressers and Showing up at Roland Garros

Daniil Medvedev was already ranked out of the top 10 before the start of Roland Garros this season.

Daniil Medvedev Clarifies the Reason for Dodging Australian Open Pressers and Showing up at Roland Garros

Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/Meddy Family)

Daniil Medvedev put to bed the speculation surrounding him opting for Roland Garros press conferences instead of the Australian Open press conferences. Earlier this year, the former World No.1 lost to Learner Tien in five sets, but chose not to appear in the post-match press conference.

After losing the first round to Cameron Norrie at Roland Garros, the Russian did appear to conduct the post-match press conference. When asked, he clarified the reasons behind this ideology. Daniil Medvedev said in his Roland Garros press conference:

I don’t know the rules exactly. I know sometimes the press is obligatory. Sometimes if the request wasn’t at the right time, like sometimes at night, you might not have to come there. I got sent that it’s not obligatory. I was like, ‘Ok, I’m not coming.’ I’m sorry guys but if it wasn’t obligatory today I wouldn’t be coming also. Yeah, I was not requested, you see? I always come. That’s not a problem for me.

Medvedev is on a poor run of form at the moment. Earlier this year, he parted ways with Gilles Simon and hoped that the results would get better.

However, the sad reality is that he hasn’t won an ATP event since October 2023. His last ATP title was the China Open two years ago.

Novak Djokovic’s draw opens up after Daniil Medvedev’s loss

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock first-round exit at the 2025 French Open after a dramatic five-set loss to Cameron Norrie. The British player, ranked 81st, overcame the 11th seed 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in a gripping contest on Court Simonne-Mathieu. Despite Medvedev’s fightback to lead 5-3 in the final set, Norrie surged late to win the last four games and secure the upset.

Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/The Tennis Podcast, Jose Morgado)

Norrie now has a strong chance to advance further in the draw, as he faces world No. 144 Federico Agustin Gomez in the second round. Medvedev’s loss follows early exits by Taylor Fritz and Francisco Cerundolo, two other top-seeded players who were defeated on Monday. Cerundolo was considered a threat on clay and could have faced Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

Medvedev was projected to play Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, and his departure opens up the Serbian’s path. Although Medvedev had struggled this season, he remained a serious challenge given his history, which includes five wins over Djokovic and a Grand Slam final victory. His absence removes a major obstacle for the 24-time major winner.

Now, Djokovic’s toughest potential fourth-round opponent is Ugo Humbert, seeded 22nd, who is not known for his clay-court performances. Other possible matchups include Norrie or fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley, both of whom are unseeded. This further boosts Djokovic’s chances of reaching the latter stages with minimal resistance.

Cameron Norrie stuns Daniil Medvedev

Cameron Norrie described his thrilling French Open victory over Daniil Medvedev as one of the finest of his career. The British player celebrated wildly after outlasting the 11th seed in a five-set battle, having never previously won a set against the Russian in four meetings. His determination and effort were evident throughout the nearly four-hour match.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via /Meddy Family)

Norrie had joked he would need to run for four hours to compete with Medvedev — a prediction that proved close to reality. He raced to a two-set lead, only for Medvedev to fight back and level the match. When Norrie dropped serve in the final set, it seemed his chances might slip away.

Yet, Norrie refused to fade. He dug deep in the closing moments, winning the final three games to seal the upset in a match that demanded intense physical and mental resilience. The contest was a grueling baseline battle lasting three hours and 52 minutes.

With this win, Norrie sets up a second-round clash against Argentina’s Federico Gomez, a lucky loser. It gives him a realistic opportunity to match his best French Open performance by advancing to the third round.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Reveals Andy Murray’s Joke About His Return to Form Under “A Proper Coach”