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Daniil Medvedev's Toronto Loss Leads to More On-Court Antics

Daniil Medvedev is using humor to diffuse his disappointment on the tennis court.
Pat Benson|
Daniil Medvedev lost to Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the Canada Masters in Toronto.
Daniil Medvedev lost to Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the Canada Masters in Toronto. | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

There appears to be no end in sight for Daniil Medvedev's slump. Not only are the days of Medvedev's Grand Slam contention in the distant past, but signs of his burnout are becoming more pronounced on the court.

On Thursday night, the tenth-seeded Medvedev took on the 18-seeded Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the Canada Masters in Toronto. Popyrin pulled off a comeback victory to defeat Medvedev in three sets: 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

As we have seen so many times before, Medvedev diffused his anger with on-court antics during the match. When down 1-3 in the second set, Medvedev wildly whiffed on a backhand and immediately played it off by mimicking looking for the ball.

Medvedev went on to drop the second set and the decider. It was yet another early exit for the Russian star, who has zero titles this year and only two semifinal appearances with one final match.

Medvedev was gracious in defeat, shaking the hands of Popyrin and the chair umpire. Afterwards, he proceeded straight to the locker room, leaving his racket bag behind.

The video went viral as announcers and fans saw it as comical, but it felt more metaphorical for the 29-year-old dealing with burnout.

Luckily, Medvedev did not blow up on the court as he has been known to do. By the end of the 2024 ATP season, Medvedev was regularly throwing his racquets during matches and expressing his frustrations with tennis balls and umpires alike.

Medvedev's frustrations carried over into 2025 when he was fined $76,000 for his behavior at the Australian Open. More recently, Medvedev tore up his bench after losing to Corentin Moutet in the DC Open.

Medvedev is a fan favorite thanks to his play style and personality. Hopefully, he can recapture his title-winning form. But first, he must start finding joy in the game again.

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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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