Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev is one of the better players on the hard court. This year alone Medvedev has won four hardcourt titles. But with the US Open looming ahead, he must do well at the Cincinnati Open. Unfortunately, though, he has come under fire from fans due to his behavior.
In a clip from one of his practice sessions, Medvedev was seen throwing his racket away in a fit of anger. He was practicing with Danish tennis player Holger Rune when it happened.
It was a windy afternoon in Cincinnati and Daniil had already hit a few double faults. He hit another double fault on the last point of his practice with Rune when his frustrations got the better of him.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER ⚠️
No rackets were harmed in the making of this video:#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/eKvqQKdYU2
— TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) August 15, 2023
Medvedev’s behavior could not be overlooked by fans, who slammed him on social media for being childish. Some told him that he needs to meditate saying, “Meddy needs to meditate“.
A user even called him the, “best pupil of Nole”. Novak Djokovic, who is referred to as Nole by his fans, has a habit of smashing his racket.
He’s the Best pupil of Nole.
— OSCAR Rodriguez (@OSCAR19Daniel55) August 15, 2023
Chris Eubanks, however, came to Medvedev’s defense. They claimed that if people knew just how windy it was, they would understand his frustrations.
If you knew how windy it was today, you’d understand lol
— Christopher Eubanks (@chris_eubanks96) August 15, 2023
The Russian’s frustrations were evident. Regardless, he will look to make the most of his time in Cincinnati, where he has done well. Medvedev cleared his first-round match and will take on Lorenzo Musetti in the second.
How has Daniil Medvedev performed at the Cincinnati Open in the past?
Daniil Medvedev is hopeful about his chances at Cincinnati this year. He will surely try to leave behind his Canada Open woes, where he lost to Alex de Minaur. Medvedev’s chances of qualifying for the ATP finals also rest on his performances at Cincinnati.
The Russian has historically done well at this tournament. His maiden Masters title came at this venue in 2019. He had a sensational run that year. Daniil defeated Novak Djokovic in a three-set thriller to book a spot in the finals.
Medvedev took on David Goffin in the final and defeated him in straight sets. Medvedev was aggressive and fought hard despite taking an early lead. In the end, he emerged victorious. However, since 2019, Medvedev has not been able to replicate the results. He came very close to it last year but Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated him in the semi-final.
Despite his past performances, Medvedev is a quality player and he is on the hunt for his big moment on tour. Daniil himself is hopeful for an uptick in his luck and so are his fans.
