Daniil Medvedev Makes Alarming ‘Confidence’ Remarks After Crisis Deepens at Cincinnati Open

Daniil Medvedev lost in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open.

Daniil Medvedev Makes Alarming ‘Confidence’ Remarks After Crisis Deepens at Cincinnati Open

Daniil Medvedev (image via Cincinnati Open)

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Daniil Medvedev is going through a rough patch in his career. The 29-year-old Russian suffered a surprising second-round loss at the Cincinnati Open, falling 6-7, 6-4, 6-1. It was his 15th defeat in 40 matches this season, a result that stung even more because hard courts have always been his preferred surface. This is usually the part of the year when he plays his best tennis, but his form has been far from convincing.

Speaking to the media after the defeat (as reported by Punto de Break), Medvedev admitted that he struggled to compete physically during the match. He said he could not clearly explain why his performances have dipped so much this season. The former US Open champion described the situation as frustrating but expressed optimism that solutions could be found. He mentioned ongoing discussions with his team and hinted at changes he hopes to implement in the coming tournaments.

Under these conditions, everything becomes extremely tough physically, and that is the priority. At this moment, I have no confidence at all: if my body and physicality abandon me, there is no shot that can save me.

His struggles continued in Toronto at the Canadian Open, where he was beaten by defending champion Alexei Popyrin in three sets. These results have taken a toll on his ranking, dropping him out of the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2019. For a player once known for his consistency on hard courts, this marks a worrying trend.

Everything is very frustrating and disappointing. These are tough times, but they are situations that can happen in this sport. The only thing I can do is keep looking for a solution. I haven’t found it yet, it seems like I’m very far from doing so, but I’ll get there at some point. I understand that it’s physically challenging to play in this heat for everyone, but I’m not sure why it’s harder for me now. I have to find the reasons, but I don’t have them yet.

Despite the setbacks, Medvedev insisted he will continue giving his best effort and try to enjoy playing. He pointed out that the hard-court season is still long and offers plenty of opportunities to recover his form. For now, the challenge lies in turning words into results.

Daniil Medvedev exits in the first round at Cincinnati

Russian star Daniil Medvedev’s slump deepened with a first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open. The 29-year-old Russian fell to Australia’s Adam Walton, ranked 85th in the world. Once the world No. 1, Medvedev is now battling a worrying stretch of poor results.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (via Telecom Asia Sport)

The North American summer swing has usually been his most productive part of the season. This year, it has been the opposite. Facing a lower-ranked opponent seemed like a chance to reset, but the loss marked just one win across his last two ATP Masters 1000 appearances.

Medvedev took the opening set in a tiebreak but faded badly in the heat, going down 7-6(0), 4-6, 1-6. His on-court frustration was clear, especially after a stumble during a routine forehand that ended in the net. The error sparked an angry exchange with his team as he questioned how he had let the match slip away.

The 2021 US Open champion has now gone two seasons without a title. He has lost three of his last four hard-court matches, and the gap between him and rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner continues to grow. Medvedev admits finding the root cause of his struggles is his top priority, but for now, the answers remain elusive.

The demise of Daniil Medvedev

Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev’s rise in men’s tennis was anything but conventional. He lacked the natural flair of Alexander Zverev or Stefanos Tsitsipas and did not carry the hype of Andrey Rublev. His style was unorthodox — standing deep behind the baseline to return serve, favoring backhands over forehands, and moving with surprising agility for his size. His climb to the top was slower than some of his peers, but when he peaked, he surpassed them all. Yet, just three years after becoming world No. 1, he has fallen outside the top ten, gone more than two seasons without a title, and posted a 1–3 record in his last four hard-court matches.

Daniil Medvedev Washington Open 2025
Daniil Medvedev (imagev via Getty)

Two moments stand out as turning points in his career, both coming after crushing Australian Open final defeats. In 2022, Rafael Nadal came back from two sets down to beat him, prompting Medvedev’s memorable “the kid has stopped dreaming” press conference. That loss led to a short break from the tour as he recovered from a hernia and adjusted his game. Early 2023 brought a strong rebound — three straight titles, finals in Indian Wells and Miami, a Masters 1000 win in Rome, a Wimbledon semifinal, and another US Open final.

The second turning point came at the 2024 Australian Open. Once again, he was a set away from the title but lost, this time to Jannik Sinner after several grueling five-set matches. The fallout was worse than in 2022. Since that defeat, he has gone 38–23 on hard courts, reached only one final — losing to Carlos Alcaraz — and struggled with physical consistency and mental focus. Age, the physical demands of his defensive style, and technical flaws in key moments have contributed to his decline.

The rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has also been a major factor, with Medvedev going just 1–11 against them since late 2023. Despite constant efforts to adapt, his body is wearing down and the challenge is tougher than ever. Still, at his best, he was among the most unique and entertaining players of his generation. His prime years brought a US Open title, three other Grand Slam finals, four Masters 1000 trophies, an ATP Finals crown, and a stint as the world No. 1 — achievements that should not be forgotten even as his results fade.