Daniil Medvedev did not hold back his frustrations after a tough defeat at the ATP Finals, openly admitting that the experience of playing tennis has become a chore for him due to dissatisfaction with the Tour’s balls. The world No. 4 has been vocal on this issue for some time, and after his loss to Taylor Fritz, the depth of his discontent was more evident than ever.
The 28-year-old Medvedev, making his sixth consecutive appearance at the prestigious season-ending tournament, faced a challenging start to his campaign. He was upset by Fritz, who claimed a 6-4, 6-3 victory in Turin. The early exchanges between the two players suggested a tightly contested match, with few openings on either side. However, at a pivotal moment in the first set, with the American leading 5-4, Medvedev’s serve let him down. Serving to stay in the set, the Russian committed two consecutive double faults, gifting Fritz a break point. To compound matters, Medvedev hit a third double fault, surrendering the set with uncharacteristic errors.
The frustration boiled over for Medvedev as he returned to his bench, slamming his racket against it before taking out his anger on the court surface—a move that earned him a code violation. The second set followed a similar pattern. Medvedev found himself broken in the sixth game, allowing Fritz to surge ahead 4-2. As tensions mounted, Medvedev received another code violation and lost a point. In a symbolic gesture, he turned his racket the wrong way while awaiting Fritz’s serve, prompting boos from the crowd. He then placed it correctly, underscoring the depth of his frustration.
After the match, Medvedev was blunt when discussing his struggles. Asked about Fritz’s ability to compete in extended rallies, he was unequivocal in attributing his difficulties to the balls used on the Tour. “Not at all surprised,” he said of Fritz’s resilience. “The balls make that everyone can do it now. So not at all surprised. I have this every day, day in, day out, since like two, three years. Every practice is a struggle. Every match is a struggle. I was holding for a long time. Now I feel zero pleasure being on the court.”
Medvedev’s dissatisfaction extended beyond his match against Fritz. When a reporter suggested that he seemed eager for the season to end, Medvedev did not disagree. “100%. It’s the first time I say it. Usually, ATP Finals were not easy for me. The only time I won it was when the year started with the US Open, so it’s a little bit different. But I always fight. As I said, since a long time, I fight with something that doesn’t depend on myself. I’m a good fighter. I am still No. 4 in the world. Might be No. 5 if Taylor plays well here. Still pretty decent. I’m sure a lot of guys would like it. But now I’m tired of fighting it. I’m tired of fighting against something that doesn’t depend on myself. I’ll see how it goes. Today I had my chances. I’ll have them in the next matches. If it doesn’t work out, I go on holiday. I’m happy.”
Medvedev’s issues with the balls on the Tour have been well-documented over the past two years. However, his recent remarks suggest he has reached a breaking point and is determined to find a solution during the offseason. “100%. That’s the goal,” he said when asked if he plans to make changes in the offseason. “For sure we will try something. We’re not sure it’s going to work. We will have a good pre-season, try to see what I can do better from my side. As I say, I feel like I’m at a big disadvantage, but I need to do something with it. For the moment, I couldn’t find the exact way. I can find my way through some matches like Shanghai, Beijing, even the US Open. I can fight my way and try to find solutions during the match.”
Medvedev further elaborated on his struggle to find consistency in his approach. “I didn’t find the exact solution of, okay, I come to the court and I know how I want to play and what I want to do. Literally everyone can stay in the rally with me right now. Every match I come, I know that basically I have to hit whatever. It doesn’t matter. Tactics matter less. It’s just about fighting and serving well. So I’m going to work a lot during the pre-season to try to find some solutions.”
The Russian star’s honest reflections highlight the mental and physical challenges of competing at the highest level. While Medvedev remains among the world’s best, his ongoing battle with conditions he perceives as unfavorable has taken a toll on his enjoyment of the sport. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he adapts and whether he can find the elusive solution that brings back his passion for the game. For now, Medvedev’s candidness offers a rare glimpse into the struggles faced by elite athletes, even those seemingly at the top of their game.