Medevdev returns with trophy

Daniil Medvedev this afternoon reminded everyone of his immense quality with a solid victory over Janick Sinner to lift up the Rotterdam Open. His trophy drought came to a close and for that, the world number eleven will be thankful. Before you jump on the hype train though it must be remembered: Medvedev won a few indoor hard-court events last season and failed to produce on the big stage. He will be itching to make sure that doesn’t repeat.

More importantly, it puts an end to a recent run of form that had many wondering if a return to his best would ever occur. Considering the personality he possesses and the terrific journey he voyaged through, it really would have been a shame.

After all, nothing is more satisfying than seeing a player up their game and improve over time. Medvedev fits that category perfectly. There were signs of promise in 2017 and 2018 as the Russian moved up the tennis table and competed with the elite. It was 2019 when it all came together. The Russian pushed Rafa Nadal to five sets at Flushing Meadows and became the ATP Finals runner-up. However you looked at it, things were bright. 2020 then saw him win the Paris Masters plus the ATP finals (becoming the only man to win the year-ending tournament while beating the world’s top three in the process.) Yet a worrying pattern emerged. Would he always peak come the season’s finish but have poor form pestering him in the early months?

Those worries were quashed as the Russian became the Australian Open runner-up just a month later. Further on in that year, he became the US Open champion by getting revenge on Novak Djokovic. 2022 started with a brutal loss to Rafa Nadal in another five-set epic final in Melbourne. In other words, he was in terrific form. Since that day in Melbourne though, it had just gone… flat. There were really worrying signs at the early stages of the Sunshine Double. Medvedev suffered two early losses against Gael Monfils and Hubert Hurcakz. Some were confused while others suggested burnout. One thing was clear though, that wasn’t the same man who had been lighting up the tennis world just months previously. People got their answers though as he announced that he was suffering from a hernia injury and would be taking surgery to fix the issue.

Even allowing for the fact that an injury can take time to heal, and a return to form can be even longer, the form (or lack of it) was alarming. A loss to Richard Gasquet was far from ideal preparation and when the French Open came around he was hammered by a far-from clay court expert named Marin Cilic. Although in the Russian’s favor, Cilic would go on to reach the semi-final. Yet, even at the best of times though, Medvedev’s clay court form is hardly inspiring. So, alarm bells at this point would have been premature. Furthermore, the controversial news of all Russians being banned from Wimbledon would have come as a heartbreak.

Typical of his 2022 though, it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference. He competed in three ATP 250 tournaments and couldn’t be victorious in a single one. Since then, it was downhill for the former world number one. An early exit from the US Open and Australia just there had left him looking like a shadow of the player he once was.

What must be remembered is the physiological impact the Russia and Ukraine conflict may have had on him. For obvious reasons, Ukrainians will suffer from the tragedies but from the average Russian’s point of view, it can hardly be easy either. Many have demonised Russian individuals, which would be difficult for anyone to handle. Last year’s Wimbledon decision was the case of him being punished for something which with the greatest of respect, is nothing to do with him. Anyway, that’s an argument for another day.

This week in Rotterdam the Russian seems to have rediscovered his form. Wins against Felix Auger Aliassime and Grigor Dimitrov were vintage and his final wasn’t half bad either. So, will he be satisfied? Most likely not, although it is a step in the right direction for the Russian. He is scheduled to play in Qatar next week and will no doubt be attending in Indian Wells and Miami, eyeing up the prizes. Will he build upon a solid week? Or will this prove to be a one-off show? That’s the beauty of sport, we never know. The real tests will be against the likes of Djokovic, Alcaraz and Tsitsipas. Then we will know if he is truly back.