‘Complicated’ Daniil Medvedev opens up in honest interview: ‘Maybe I could have won 10 Grand Slams’
Daniil Medvedev has opened up in a candid interview, ahead of his 2025 Roland Garros campaign, exploring his relationship with tennis, on-court antics, and admiration for Novak Djokovic.
The Russian has had a mixed 2025 season, consistently reaching the latter stages of tournaments, but failing to reach a final – with his best result coming at the Indian Wells Masters, where he reached the last four (losing to Holger Rune).
In a recent interview with the media outlet Bolshe!, Medvedev opened up about his on-court struggles.
“Even if I lose, there are times when I accept it well because I felt good on the court and simply my opponent was better than me. In other situations where I can’t play well, the situation becomes frustrating,” admitted the Russian, when asked about his overall relationship with tennis.
“It’s something that has been happening to me quite often lately, but still, you have to fight for the match. What I’ve learned from talking to other players is that there are some tennis players who hate this sport, but mostly, we all love tennis.
“There are days when we love tennis very much, and others not so much. When you return to the locker room after a loss, you hate tennis, but the next day you keep working.”
The former world No 1 is widely known for his on-court outbursts, including being verbally aggressive to umpires and carrying out an abundance of racket smashes – something which he acknowledges.
“It’s not that I have two personalities, it’s just that on the court, there are things that make me feel emotions, adrenaline, and all that, emotions that I rarely express in my normal life,” stated Medvedev
“These are things that happen in my everyday life two, three times a year. I can shout at someone, get mad sometimes, but on the court, it happens if not every day, very often. There is nothing in life besides tennis that I have to execute with such precision.
“I am a very simple person. When people talk to me, they understand how I am, but if they spend more time with me, they will see that it’s a different world, but I think that happens with everyone.
“When I’m on the court, it’s not that I am a different person, it’s just that this complex inner world comes out and fully shows itself.
“There are situations where I can behave very foolishly, without thinking, maybe that’s where my clashes with the umpires come from. They don’t make any sense; you can never prove anything, even if you’re right. If you’re wrong, you worsen the situation, but I can’t control my emotions on the court.”
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Medvedev has had his fair share of heartbreak, losing three out of his four Grand Slam finals – with his sole win coming against Novak Djokovic at the US Open in 2021.
The former world No 1 has had a particularly strong relationship with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, often heaping praise towards Djokovic.
“I am always very impressed by Novak,” Medvedev said.
“In tennis terms, he can do everything: forehand, backhand, serve, but many other players can too. What always surprises me is that he has been able to win everything he has won. Surely it’s thanks to his mind. Since he was a child, he said he wanted to be the world number one.
“It really fascinates me because based on how I played in juniors, my evolution has been incredible, becoming the best of my generation, or practically. I never thought I would achieve that.
“When I look at junior players today, some like Alcaraz or Sinner have already won Grand Slams. There are some you think will reach the Top 10, and that’s it. I have achieved much more. On the other hand, there’s Novak, and you think, ‘I also know how to serve, play backhand and forehand.
“Maybe I could have won 10 Grand Slams.’ I don’t know if that inner world harms me, but I think it’s more the opposite. I have achieved many things because of who I am.”
