In the midst of the high-energy buildup to the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Daniil Medvedev and Iga Swiatek shared a moment of levity that has tennis fans buzzing with delight. During a lively tag-team interview with Tennis Channel, the two Grand Slam champions revisited a playful nickname Swiatek coined for Medvedev back in 2021: “pretzel.” Inspired by Medvedev’s unorthodox on-court movements, particularly his distinctive forehand, the moniker has become a lighthearted emblem of their camaraderie. “Yeah, that was pretty funny!” Medvedev chuckled, reflecting on the nickname’s origin. “I actually have the pretzel dampener in my bag, but I like the flame more. And I see exactly what Iga meant by this. Especially my forehand, I would think. My backhand is nothing special, but my forehand sometimes can be like a pretzel.”
The nickname first emerged during a 2021 Instagram Live hosted by their shared sponsor, Tecnifibre, when Swiatek, then ranked No. 11, likened Medvedev’s unique playing style to the twisted shape of a pretzel. “Actually, we’re going to work on me not playing like a pretzel,” she teased at the time, quickly clarifying, “Sorry Daniil, but I was watching your games, wait, maybe in English it’s not a pretzel? It’s just bread, that, it’s like. I don’t want you to feel bad about it, but I mean, you make these weird poses, hitting backhands. It’s great, I love watching that.” Medvedev, then world No. 2, took it in stride, joking, “No one has ever called me a pretzel before. Okay, it’s gonna be one of my many nicknames that I have.” The exchange, filled with laughter, showcased their easy rapport, which has only deepened over the years.
Fast forward to 2025, and the “pretzel” nickname has taken on a life of its own, even inspiring Tecnifibre’s new T-Fight ID racket collection, featuring a pretzel-shaped dampener in honor of Medvedev and a bagel dampener for Swiatek’s knack for 6-0 set victories. Medvedev, now ranked No. 15, has embraced the quirky label, admitting his unconventional style—often compared to an “octopus” by fellow player Andrey Rublev—stems from a lifelong drive to win, no matter how awkward the motion. “As she said, why do we have sometimes this ‘pretzel’ technique? Because the most important thing is to put the ball in,” he explained, highlighting their shared philosophy of prioritizing results over aesthetics. “And Iga is the best, especially when she’s in the zone, she doesn’t miss and she can also hit very strong. I would love to have her capacity to never miss and just put it in the corners.”
Swiatek, the world No. 3 and recent Wimbledon champion, returned the admiration, praising Medvedev’s powerful serve and deep return position. “I recently started to play my returns a little bit further back—not like Daniil,” she laughed, “but a little bit more back. I like the way he can play it flat and also add more spin and still make it long, even though he’s far away from the baseline.” Their mutual respect, forged through shared sponsorship and promotional events like a recent padel match that left them in stitches, underscores a friendship that transcends the court. Swiatek’s earlier social media exchange with Medvedev, when he posted a photo eating a pretzel and tagged her, elicited a joyful response: “You literally made my day,” she wrote, adding, “Today I was a pretzel on court.”
As Medvedev, with a 26-16 record this season, prepares to face Lorenzo Musetti in Cincinnati’s second round, and Swiatek, boasting a 45-12 record and a Wimbledon title, gears up for Marta Kostyuk, their lighthearted banter offers a refreshing contrast to the sport’s intensity. Fans have flooded social media, with one declaring, “Daniil and Iga’s friendship is the wholesome content we need!” Their shared history, from viral nicknames to collaborative projects like Tecnifibre’s limited-edition rackets, paints a picture of two champions who find joy in the game’s quirks. As they chase success on the hard courts, Medvedev’s embrace of his “pretzel” persona proves that even in defeat—he’s yet to advance past the second round in 2025 majors—his humor and heart keep him a fan favorite, ready to twist his way to victory.
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