Daniil Medvedev recently voiced his frustrations regarding the court conditions and the balls used at the Paris Masters, attributing his early exit from the tournament to these factors. The Russian tennis star, who was the fourth seed at Bercy, faced a surprising defeat in the second round at the hands of Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, with the match ending 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4). Despite being a former champion at this event, Medvedev’s campaign came to a halt much earlier than anticipated, leaving many to speculate about the underlying reasons for his performance.
After receiving a first-round bye, Medvedev stepped onto the court on Wednesday, highly regarded as one of the favorites to win the title. However, the match quickly turned into a challenging contest for the world No. 5. Throughout the encounter, he displayed visible frustration, especially during a pivotal moment in the third set when he fell behind by a break. In a fit of annoyance, he threw his racket into the air, only for it to come crashing down and hit him, illustrating his emotional state on the court. Despite managing to break back and force a tie-break, Medvedev ultimately fell short, highlighting the difficulties he faced during the match.
In his post-match comments, Medvedev highlighted that the court speed and the inconsistent feel of the balls played a significant role in his disappointing performance. Earlier in the year at the Indian Wells Masters, he had already expressed dissatisfaction with what he deemed “too slow” courts, which he believed contradicted the essence of a hard-court tournament. This time, however, many players, including Medvedev, noticed that the surface in Paris was unusually fast, a stark contrast to what they had previously experienced. When a reporter asked about his thoughts on the court conditions, Medvedev was quick to clarify his stance. “I like the court, but for me, it’s not about slow or fast. It’s just that sometimes it’s too slow,” he explained.
He further elaborated, saying, “The court, I think, was fine. Yeah, maybe a bit too fast. When it’s the fastest on tour, you can feel it, everyone can feel it, so we’re a bit surprised. We need time to adapt to it.” Medvedev acknowledged that while the conditions might favor some players, they have posed a considerable disadvantage for him. “I have a bigger problem on tour. Some players get advantaged by it; some players disadvantaged. It’s okay; it can happen. But it’s a big disadvantage for me,” he added.
In addition to the court conditions, Medvedev also made an interesting observation about the balls used during the tournament. He remarked that even within a single can containing six balls, he felt there was a noticeable inconsistency in their performance. “If you take six balls out of the can, if you look closely and bounce them, there are going to be six different balls. I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to be,” he said, emphasizing his frustration with the playing conditions. Medvedev is well aware that these factors contribute to the unpredictability of matches, making it increasingly difficult for him to secure victories, especially in the opening rounds.
Reflecting on his recent performances, Medvedev mentioned that first-round matches have become particularly challenging for him. He noted that he used to win these encounters more comfortably but now finds himself having to fight for every point. “Every match I play, I have to fight. I have to win 7-6 in the third. And sometimes I lose. Yeah, that’s a reality,” he stated, revealing a sense of resignation to the challenges he’s currently facing on the ATP Tour. This season has been especially tough, as he noted it has been years since he has experienced so many first-round exits in hard-court tournaments. “It’s the most first-round exits for me since probably 2018, I would guess, or maybe even further,” he lamented.
Amidst the difficulties, Medvedev reflected on a rather peculiar statistic regarding his career. Despite having amassed 20 titles, he has never managed to win the same tournament more than once. His only title at the Paris Masters came in 2020, and although he had a chance to defend it in 2021, he fell short against Novak Djokovic in the final. When asked about this statistic after his loss to Popyrin, Medvedev responded with a light-hearted demeanor, stating, “No pressure. Just, yeah, funny statistic, which I want to change.” He expressed a desire to overcome this anomaly in his career, saying, “I’m already 28, 29 next year. I want to change it, but so far I didn’t manage to do it. I’m going to try again. Maybe I should play to 50 somewhere where I won already,” he joked.
Looking ahead, Medvedev’s season is not over yet. He still has the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin to prepare for, where he will be aiming to end his season on a high note. As he gears up for this next challenge, it remains to be seen how he will adapt to the conditions and whether he can turn his fortunes around. The pressure is on for Medvedev, but with his talent and determination, fans will be watching closely to see if he can find the form that once made him a top contender in the tennis world.