There is nothing boring about Australian Open contender Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev has the potential to light up Melbourne Park – both on and off the court. After a 2019 which saw him go head-to-head with crowds, umpires and rival players, his fiery nature has made him must-see viewing.
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You know the games of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. But there is another name on the men’s tour who will be front and centre this Australian Open.
Daniil Medvedev has the potential to light up Melbourne Park – both on and off the court.
The 23-year-old is one of the hottest young prospects on the ATP Tour, with his ranking jumping to No. 5 in the world after a breakout year in 2019.
However, there is another side to his game that has created worldwide headlines.
After going head-to-head with crowds, umpires and rival players, his fiery nature has made him must-see viewing.
What can Melbourne Park crowds expect to see when he hits centre court next week? Recap some of the Russian’s wildest moments.
MEDVEDEV V THE US OPEN CROWD
The crowds in New York are a passionate bunch. When players get under their skin, they let them know all about it.
Medvedev found that out the hard way late last year, when he was loudly booed for his antics against Spanish veteran Feliciano López.
During the match, Medvedev angrily snatched his towel from a ball boy and then gave the umpire the middle finger salute.
But in his battle with the American fans, he wasn’t going down without a fight.
After winning the match, Medvedev thanked the locals for their booing, which he said inspired him to win.
“Your energy tonight (gave) me the win,” he said on court as the jeering got louder.
“Because, if you were not here, guys, I would probably lose the match, because I was so tired, I was cramping yesterday, it was so tough on me to play. So I want all of you to know, when you sleep tonight, I won because of you.”
While the interviewer tried to get things back on track, Medvedev was having none of it.
“The energy you’re giving me right now, guys, I think it will be enough for my five next matches. The more you do this, the more I will win, for you guys.”
The drama did nothing to slow Medvedev down. Despite being public enemy no. 1, he went on to reach the final, losing to Rafael Nadal in five sets.
‘THAT TOOK A LOT OF COJONES’
Medvedev’s US Open antics may not have won over the local crowd. But they did impress the ultimate bad boy of tennis.
Seven-time major winner John McEnroe loved what he saw from the Russian.
“That’s one of the gutsiest things that I’ve seen, when he was embracing the booing, and that type of stuff,” he said.
“That took a lot of cojones, as they say.”
So impressed was McEnroe, that he believes Medvedev is ready to make his mark at the very top of the game.
“You’ve still got to put those guys (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal) ahead of the other guys (rising stars). They just know how to get it done,” McEnroe said.
“But Medvedev to me is the guy that has the best chance of winning it right now. He showed a gear that we haven’t seen at the US Open.”
DANIIL MEDVEDEV V STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
It isn’t just the fans who have had issues with Medvedev.
He has a long-running feud with fellow rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Following a 2018 match in Miami, the two had to be separated on the court after some choice words from Tsitsipas to Medvedev.
After getting his first win over Medvedev late last year, Tsitsipas gave the media an insight into the bad blood.
“(I) got p***ed and said what I said, which I do regret, but at the time I was very frustrated that things happened this way,” he said.
“I completely forgot about the past. I mean, our chemistry definitely isn’t the best that you can find on the tour.
“It just happens with people that it’s not that you can just like everyone.
“It’s not that I hate him. As he said, we will not go to dinner together.”
MEDVEDEV V THE CHAIR UMPIRE
The summer of tennis was only just warming up but Medvedev was in peak form in Brisbane last week.
The Russian made headlines around the world when he smashed his racquet against the umpire’s chair multiple times.
Medvedev didn’t see too much wrong with the exchange when quizzed about it after the match.
“The second code violation for sure was deserved, so I don’t argue,” he said of striking the chair.
“In fact, why I got the second one was because I was arguing with the first one because I didn’t hear it.
“I would say I got a code violation. I will get a fine. Usually when you get a code violation you get a fine for code violation. I don’t think there is anything else to do.”
'Tennis isn't normally like this, we swear'
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 9, 2020
WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/5bsqpECkOf#9WWOS #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/ycitYDCFJ2
MEDVEDEV V DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN
The chair umpire wasn’t the only one who got in Medvedev’s way in Brisbane.
He also clashed with fellow top 15 player Diego Schwartzman after their second round match.
Not impressed with the Russian’s antics during their match, Schwartzman urged Medvedev to change his ways when the two met at the net.
“I told Medvedev at the net that he is a great player, but as a person needs to change a lot. He is very disrespectful on court and does things that he doesn’t need to do,” Schwartzman told ESPN.
MEDVEDEV V WIMBLEDON UMPIRE
Players are usually on their best behaviour at Wimbledon.
But that wasn’t exactly the case for Medvedev after his 2017 loss to Ruben Bemelmans.
Following the five set defeat, Medvedev grabbed his wallet, took out some loose coins and tossed them towards the umpire.
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Medvedev went on to explain that he lost his cool after becoming frustrated with a line call in the fifth set.
“I did a stupid thing.”