Daniil Medvedev Confesses to Being 'Traumatised' as He Makes Feelings Clear on 19YO Pro: 'In My Dreams'

Their rivalry has already become one of 2025’s defining stories. Earlier in the year, Tien stunned Medvedev in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open, then again in Beijing, where the Russian’s body betrayed him. 

Trailing 0-4 in the final set, Medvedev had been forced to retire, his legs cramping violently under the relentless pace. That memory lingered like a scar. And as the Shanghai heat bore down, history threatened to repeat itself.

Under conditions so brutal that seven players had already retired mid-match this week, Medvedev found himself again in a physical war. Early in the second set, he called to his team for pickle juice, a desperate bid to fight off the cramps. He raced to a 3-0 lead and even held a break point for 4-0, but his movement began to stiffen, his energy dipping as Tien clawed back. By the time the tiebreak arrived, Medvedev’s body seemed to lock, yielding him just one point.

But when all seemed lost, Medvedev’s serve turned into his lifeline. Having edged the opening set in a pulsating 75-minute tiebreak, he steadied himself for one final push. The third set became a test of will more than skill, and Medvedev answered it with a champion’s heart. 

Through frustration, pain, and near-collapse, Medvedev’s grit never wavered. His composure, often mistaken for coldness, proved to be his greatest weapon. Next up, he faces seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who earlier defeated Nuno Borges. 

But tonight, in Shanghai’s humid night air, the story belongs to Medvedev, a man who conquered cramps, chaos, and the haunting brilliance of Learner Tien, and still found the strength to smile.

Daniil Medvedev expresses frustration with the chair umpire

On Wednesday, the stadium thrummed with intensity. Every rally felt like a test of nerve and endurance, with neither player giving an inch. Medvedev’s serve became his dagger, slicing through tense moments with ruthless precision. The first-set tiebreak delivered a breathtaking 29-shot rally, a raw, electric showcase of power, patience, and pure will that had the crowd hanging on every stroke.

But the fierce rhythm soon gave way to fire. During a changeover, Medvedev’s composure cracked after another code violation. Frustration surged as he lashed out at the umpire, saying, “All my life, I’ve been serving & waiting for Rafa for 55 seconds. And you give me a code violation on the first occasion. I played Rafa 5 times, there was not one time I was ready to serve and he was ready to return. He didn’t get one time violation.” His words, sharp and dripping with irony, cut through the air and instantly became the moment of the match.

His outburst reignited a long-standing debate about fairness and consistency in tennis officiating, especially when it comes to the sport’s biggest names.

Even John McEnroe had once stirred that same storm back in 2022, calling out Nadal’s lengthy rituals. “Rafa has got his ritual that takes 30 seconds every time he plays a point,” McEnroe said. “If you’re that great you can get away with it.”

Now, amid the chaos and controversy, a bigger story brews. With Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and several stars missing, the path stands wide open. 

For Medvedev, this might just be his moment to roar again: to seize the spotlight and make it truly his!