Rewind to August 2021, and Daniil Medvedev was crowning a remarkable breakout season by dismantling world number one Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win the US Open — his first and only Grand Slam. It capped an astonishing year in which he won 83% of his matches (63 wins, 13 losses) and claimed four titles. Fresh from that success many tipped him to kick on and collect multiple grand slams and potentially dominate hard courts for years to come.
However, that expected success has never truly materialised. Despite flashes of brilliance, Medvedev has become the game’s nearly man: six career Grand Slam finals, just one victory. He is now two years without a title, forced to watch from the sidelines as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz sweep up the big prizes, racking up ten Slams between them.
This year has been a brutally difficult one for Daniil Medvedev and his supporters. Early exits at both the Australian Open and US Open set the tone for a disappointing campaign in which the Russian has managed just 32 wins — barely half of his breakout 2021 tally. With no titles to his name and a slide outside the world’s top 16, his path through tournaments has become increasingly challenging, making deep runs harder than ever.
And yet, after Jannik Sinner’s shock exit in round 3, Medvedev suddenly finds himself presented with a real opportunity to secure an ATP 1000 title. If he can get past American No. 7 Tien, a more than winnable quarter-final with Alex de Minaur likely awaits.
It feels like time is running out for Medvedev, to turn promise into legacy. This is a must win event for the Russian if he is to try and salvage some sort of positive from a dismal season.