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Daniil Medvedev Talks Smack After Brisbane International Title

Daniil Medvedev sent a playful message to the ATP Tour after winning his 22nd career title.
Pat Benson|
Daniil Medvedev talked smack after winning the Brisbane International.
Daniil Medvedev talked smack after winning the Brisbane International. | IMAGO / AAP

There was no shortage of tennis highlights for tennis fans to wake up to on Sunday morning. One of the most memorable moments came from Daniil Medvedev's win over Brandon Nakashima in the Brisbane International final.

Medvedev defeated Nakashima in straight sets: 6-2, 7-6(1). It was more than just another ATP 250 title for Medvedev; it was his 22nd career title. All of which have come in different cities.

Medvedev took a victory lap on social media by playfully trolling the ATP Tour, "Dear @atptour …..can you please add more cities? I am running out….😂😉." The official ATP Tour X account replied, "We'll see what we can do 😂."

All jokes aside, this was an incredible accomplishment for a future Hall of Famer. Best of all, it took place on his daughter's birthday. Medvedev opened up on the importance of the match in his on-court speech after the milestone victory.

"I want to dedicate this to my family," said Medvedev.

"They couldn't make it to Australia, it is a bit too far, guys, about 23 hours from where I live, and with two young kids, it is not easy. I decided to play this tournament, and we thought we would be coming all together, but we stuck to the decision, and my daughter had a birthday when I was here, so I dedicate it to her first birthday. This [trophy] is a bit too heavy for her, though."

Medvedev is coming off two pretty rough years on the tour. He has let his frustration with everything from the chair umpires to photographers to nets to tennis balls show in eruptive displays of anger.
Now, Medvedev is off to a strong start in 2026. Hopefully, it results in a happier year for the veteran.

According to the ATP Tour, Medvedev is the third active player to win 20 tour-level hard-court trophies, joining Novak Djokovic (72) and Jannik Sinner (21).

Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Serve On SI for all of your tennis style news from the court and beyond.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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