Kim Clijsters Comments on the Urthodox Forehand Technique of Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev hopes to win the Miami Open for the first time since 2023.

Kim Clijsters Comments on the Urthodox Forehand Technique of Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev and Kim Clijsters (via X/Jose Morgado/Tennis Actu)

In Short
  • Kim Clijsters highlights Daniil Medvedev's unique forehand technique, which generates less topspin than typical for his height.
  • Medvedev has had a strong start to the 2026 season, reaching three finals and winning titles in Brisbane and Dubai.
  • He faces a challenging draw at the Miami Open, aiming to improve his ranking after a disappointing performance last year.

Former tennis player Kim Clijsters has brought to limelight one of Daniil Medvedev‘s distinctive techniques on the court. The Russian star has enjoyed a blistering start to the 2026 season, having reached three tournament finals and lost just four matches, which is a very drastic improvement from his performance last year.

Medvedev is one of the tallest players in the men’s circuit, a 6-foot-6, yet he has proven his groundstrokes’ spin to be the most effective on tour. The technique is far from the most eye-catching, but it often forces his opponent to make mistakes. The likes of Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz developed smoother forehand shots that invite the use of heavy topspin.

But Medvedev’s groundstrokes are played with less topspin than many of his peers, which had been highly effective on the court this season. Usually, for a player of his height, a groundstroke is supposed to be played with more topspin, but Medvedev does it with excellent brilliance, as it generates less topspin.

He effectively implemented the technique during his match against Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Open, winning the match in straight sets. He earned his first title of the season at the Brisbane International and then his second at the Dubai Tennis Championships last month.

Medvedev has experienced a rebirth in terms of his game plan and execution since September, just days after parting ways with his previous coaching team. Since his partnership with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, the Russian star has begun to play with more freedom. During a conversation on the Love All podcast, Clijsters acknowledged that awkward technique has been one to watch this year:

I feel that technically, his backhand is a good shot. There isn’t much room for error. He can face a left-hander like Rafa who hits a high forehand to his backhand, and he adapts to that easily. And to explain his forehand stroke, I also think it’s because he’s tall and thin. I think that, generally speaking, his longer limbs give him a slightly different look. But he adapts very easily to different opponents and the different styles of tennis he has to face.

Medvedev will hope to continue with his current form at the Miami Open. He won the ATP Masters 1000 title in 2023 after beating Jannik Sinner in the final. En route to the championship triumph, the former World No.1 dropped just one set at the tournament. He has not reached the final of the event since then.

Daniil Medvedev’s been handed a difficult draw at the Miami Open

Daniil Medvedev arrives at the Miami Open to claim his first big title since winning the 2023 Italian Open. The courts at the tournaments are historically quicker than those at Indian Wells, which benefits Medvedev’s playing style of groundstrokes and powerful serving technique.

Daniil Medvedev (2)
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis)

He’s the ninth seed at the tournament. He was ranked outside the Top 10 in Indian Wells, but joined the elite group after his run at the California desert. Medvedev will open his account at the Miami Open against Aleksandar Kovacevic or Japanese sensation Rei Sakamoto in the second round.

Should he reach the third round of the tournament, he’s projected to face Argentina Open champion Francisco Cerundolo before a potential clash against American star Ben Shelton in the fourth round. Medvedev could face Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals before a potential clash with Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

Medvedev has the opportunity to earn significant ranking points in Miami, as he lost to Jaume Munar in the second round of the tournament last year. He earned just 30 ranking points at the tournament in 2025, so he has a chance of earning a further 970 points at this year’s event, should he win it.

Also Read: Elena Rybakina Gears Up for ‘One Last Push’ in Miami Amid ‘Brutal’ Schedule