Daniil Medvedev reveals the ATP opponent he least wants to meet in 2026

Like many on the tour, Medvedev has been vocal in the past about how demanding the tennis schedule can be.

Despite those concerns, he is already back on court for an exhibition event in St. Petersburg after a brief off-season break.

While there, Medvedev sat down with Tennis Bolshoi for an interview that covered a range of topics, both tennis and beyond.

When asked which player he would prefer to avoid facing in 2026, Medvedev did not hesitate to name Learner Tien.

“Tien. For some reason they keep bringing us together…I might get a little carried away in many matches, but with him I’m simply blocked at one point…It’s also hard for him too and that’s why I think he also doesn’t want to play with me,” he stated.

Daniil Medvedev vs Learner Tien head-to-head

This year marked the first time they met, with all three encounters coming during the 2025 season.

Tien has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings this year, moving from outside the top 120 into the top 30.

The American took two of their three meetings this year.

Their first encounter was at the Australian Open, where Tien came out on top in five sets. The match ended at 2:55 am local time in Melbourne.

The drama of their second meeting stemmed from Medvedev’s retirement against Tien, who succumbed to cramping after letting a lead slip away.

Medvedev secured his revenge against Tien in their next encounter at the Shanghai Masters, prevailing in a hard-fought match that went to three sets.