Daniil Medvedev Snaps Repeat Title Curse… Kind Of

It’s only fitting that one of the most unique stats in tennis belongs to one of the most unique players. Before Saturday, Daniil Medvedev had not only never defended a title, he had never won the same title twice. With 22 titles to his name, the strange feat was more impressive than anything, although even Medvedev acknowledged that at this rate, he would run out of cities. But his 23rd title at the Dubai Tennis Championships was one that he had won before, breaking what felt like a curse.

Except, Medvedev didn’t technically win the title. His would-be final opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, withdrew from the match due to injury. So although the title went to Medvedev, it was via walkover, not a victory in the final.

Has Daniil Medvedev broken his curse?

22 Titles, 22 Cities

Medvedev’s often unorthodox style of play has led him to titles all across the world and all on three surfaces, but strangely never in the same place. Since 2018, Medvedev has picked up at least one new city every year (save for 2024) but has failed to execute a successful title defense or repeat a title. 

It wasn’t for lack of opportunity—Medvedev has had deep runs in tournaments he’s won before. The closest he came to a repeat title was in the 2023 Vienna final (a tournament he won in 2022). There, he played a close three-setter against Jannik Sinner, only narrowly losing out in the end and opening the door for the curse to continue on. 

With Medvedev’s title-winning rate dropping off after 2023, it seemed as though his chances of repeating a title were even slimmer than they already had been. But the tennis fates had a very different idea for the Russian.

Unfinished Dubai Run

After a disappointing, lopsided loss in Doha to his rival Stefanos Tsitsipas, Medvedev refused to suffer the same fate in Dubai. En route to the final, Medvedev didn’t drop a single set, and the closest set he won was only 6-4 in his routine win over the top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last four. Dominating in all of his matches, Medvedev was the favorite against Griekspoor, who was clearly struggling physically at the end of his semifinal.

But Medvedev had already won this title, back in 2023. So how favoured was he, really?

He never got to find out, as Griekspoor was unable to compete due to the injuries he picked up this week. Medvedev’s repeat title curse is broken, but he didn’t get the chance to win the title he repeated.

The Dubai title will be there twice on his records, but it remains to be seen whether or not Medvedev can go out there and win the final of a tournament he’s already won.