What on earth has happened to Daniil Medvedev?

(Getty/Rene Nijhuis)

Picture this: it's mid-September 2021, and Daniil Medvedev has just won his first major title, denying Novak Djokovic the chance to complete the calendar Slam at the US Open.

Many believed it marked a changing of the guard, with the Russian star poised to become the new benchmark in men's tennis.

A few months later, Medvedev appeared to be living up to those expectations with a dominant run at the 2022 Australian Open.

He was two sets up against Rafael Nadal in the final, but faltered as the Spaniard mounted a memorable comeback.

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Since then, Medvedev has reached two further showpiece matches — yet failed to claim victory in either.

Six major finals, yet just one title to show for it; that solitary triumph in New York almost four years ago.

Now, in 2025, Medvedev has endured a difficult season, with no deep runs at majors. Instead, it's been multiple early exits.

Many are questioning whether he is done at the highest level, as the younger generation pushes towards the summit.

Though already a great of the sport — a Grand Slam champion and ATP Finals winner — Medvedev has looked bewildered on court.

Even on his trusted hard courts, he suffered two consecutive losses in the lead-up to this month's US Open at the hands of Alexei Popyrin in Toronto and then, more alarmingly, to Aussie Adam Walton in Cincinnati, ranked just inside the top 100.

Currently still ranked in the world's top 20, Medvedev attributes his struggles to a lack of confidence.

Following his first round loss at Wimbledon, the 29-year-old remained optimistic for the rest of the year.

"For me, it's a matter of confidence," he said.

"If not for the results in Halle [where he lost in the final], I'd be saying something is definitely missing. It's just a matter of a couple of matches."

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A confident and healthy Daniil Medvedev remains a major asset to the tennis world, and despite the unwanted setbacks this season, his experience and know-how could yet elevate him back to the top.

He will be seeded low at the US Open, but perhaps that makes him a dangerous wildcard in the early rounds.

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