Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has revealed a hidden struggle that cast a shadow over his 2024 season—a persistent shoulder injury that caused daily pain for nearly a year. Speaking after a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over Wu Yibing in the second round of the 2025 Mubadala Citi Open in Washington, D.C., the Russian star disclosed that the injury, which he kept under wraps, significantly hampered his serve, forehand, and overall performance. Now ranked No. 7 and free of pain, Medvedev is focused on reclaiming his place among tennis’ elite, with his sights set on the hard-court swing and the upcoming US Open.
“For one full season, or actually 365 days, I was having so much pain in my shoulder,” Medvedev shared in an on-court interview, reflecting on the ordeal that began in 2023 and lingered through much of 2024. “It affected my serve, my forehand, and just my general feeling on the court.” The injury, which he chose not to publicize, led to a noticeable dip in his serve’s effectiveness, with his aces per match dropping to 6.9 in 2024, the lowest in five years, compared to a career-high of 9.3 in 2020 and 2021. This decline, as noted by former world No. 7 Andrea Petkovic, robbed Medvedev of the “free points” crucial for a player known for his physically demanding, defensive style. “When you play such a physically demanding game, you are in need of some free points on your serve,” Petkovic observed, speculating that a “secret injury” was at play.
Medvedev’s 2024 season was a tale of highs and lows. He started strongly, reaching the Australian Open final, only to fall to Jannik Sinner after leading by two sets. A second final at Indian Wells ended in defeat to Carlos Alcaraz, and while he extracted revenge on Sinner in a five-set Wimbledon quarterfinal, his form faltered thereafter. Early exits in Cincinnati, Canada, and the Paris Masters, coupled with a 1-2 record at the ATP Finals, saw him finish the year without a title for the first time in seven years. A first-round loss to Cameron Norrie at the 2025 French Open and a shock Wimbledon defeat to Benjamin Bonzi dropped him to No. 14, his lowest ranking since 2023. “I felt like I didn’t play too bad,” Medvedev said after the Wimbledon loss. “I was surprised by his level. I don’t see much I could do better.”
The shoulder pain, which Medvedev hinted at during a 2024 French Open press conference, became a focal point of scrutiny. “Someone hit him with a stat and said you used to win this many free points on your serve and it’s dropped to this, and he said, ‘I know that, I am very aware of this number,’” Petkovic recalled. Medvedev admitted the injury limited his ability to practice his serve, a cornerstone of his game. Additional setbacks, including a hip injury that forced him to retire from the 2024 Madrid Open quarterfinal against Jiri Lehecka, compounded his challenges. “I couldn’t sprint, like when you strain a muscle or have a spasm,” he said at the time, uncertain about the injury’s severity.
Now, with his shoulder “much better for some time,” Medvedev is rediscovering his rhythm. His Washington performance, where he fired 10 aces and won 90% of first-serve points against Wu, signals a return to form. “Now I can keep working on it,” he said of his serve, emphasizing his renewed focus on technical improvements. As the top seed at the Citi Open, Medvedev faces Brandon Nakashima next, with a potential quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe looming. His 2-2 record in 2025, including a semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic in Adelaide, suggests he’s building momentum for the North American hard-court season, where he’s historically excelled, boasting a 13-7 record against Alexander Zverev and a competitive 7-8 rivalry with Sinner.
Medvedev’s candid revelation, shared in a mixed-zone interview, underscores his resilience. At 29, he dismisses retirement talk, as he did after a Rotterdam loss in February 2025: “I like tennis. I’m still winning a lot of money, so I’m gonna continue playing until I can do it.” With his shoulder healed and a renewed sense of purpose, Medvedev aims to silence doubters and reclaim his spot among the top five. As he navigates the path to Flushing Meadows, where he triumphed four years ago, the tennis world watches to see if “The Nuke” can rediscover the explosive form that once made him world No. 1.
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