Daniil Medvedev completely outclassed Novak Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final to establish himself as a player to keep an eye on. Things haven’t gone according to plan for the World No. 1 since that surreal triumph.
Well, Medvedev’s results have not been as disappointing as it has been for the women’s 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu. However, the Russian wouldn’t be too thrilled about his performances in 2022.
He began the year on a strong note and reached the Australian Open final before losing to the legendary Rafael Nadal in a thrilling contest. He once again tasted defeat against the Spaniard at the Mexican Open semifinal.
In the Indian Wells Masters, the 26-year-old lost in the second round. In Miami, he was stunned by Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinal. Medvedev lost his first match at the Geneva Open and couldn’t progress beyond the fourth round at French Open.
The Russian star reached his second final of the year at the Libema Open. However, Tim van Rijthoven defeated him without too much fuss. Hurkacz once again got the better of Medvedev in the Halle Open final. In Mallorca, Medvedev lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals before finally winning his first title in 2022.
He couldn’t carry the momentum into the Canadian Open and lost in the second round to an in-form Nick Kyrgios. At the Cincinnati Masters, Stefanos Tsitsipas got the better of Medvedev in the semifinal. Medvedev showed entered the US Open to defend his title and won his first three matches convincingly. However, Kyrgios once again outplayed him and knocked him out in the fourth round.
What is the Reason behind Daniil Medvedev’s form?
Daniil Medvedev has failed to replicate his 2021 US Open performance this year. Let’s take a look at what could be the reason behind his struggling form.
A huge difference can be seen in terms of the percentages of return games he won in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he won 31.5% of the return games but it dropped alarmingly to 24.9% in 2022.
Medvedev’s deep return position has not worked for him. Players have identified and reacted accordingly to take advantage of his positioning. These days, with so much technology at work, the chinks in the armor are visible clearly and targeted accordingly.
Another thing that could bog the talented player down is the pressure of expectations. A US Open champion and World No. 1 player carries a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Some feed off it while others need time to get used to it.
Can Daniil Medvedev rediscover his form?
Yes, he did not become a Grand Slam champion or a World No. 1 by accident. He made his presence felt in various tournaments to climb the ladder of success.
A lot of pressure must have been released after his exit from the US Open. He is no longer the defending champion and is set to lose his No. 1 ranking after the tournament anyone among Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz.
This will help him play with a clear head with lesser pressure. He should not focus on what the trollers are saying on social media and believe in the process that got helped him reach the top. With minor tweaks, we might see a 2.0 version of Medvedev that would once again take our breath away.
More Tennis news
- “Would love to see him lift his first grand slam trophy.” – Fans react as Nick Kyrgios stuns Daniil Medvedev to reach US Open quarterfinal
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