Medvedev and a silent decline on the big stages: how much is left of the best Daniil?

Carlos Navarro | 3 Jul 2026 | 21.13

Are we witnessing the decline of Daniil Medvedev? Source: Getty

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The defeat suffered today by Daniil Medvedev in the third round of Wimbledon 2026 reveals what is already a structural and identity problem for the Russian. There is something going on with the most recent Medvedev in the Grand Slams: he has only reached the second week of a Major once in the last two years (and was thrashed in the fourth round, at this Australian Open, against Learner Tien), increasingly exposed to the mental ups and downs that plague him in various scenarios.

In a season of ups and downs, with performances as brilliant as the one he displayed at Indian Wells against Alcaraz, Medvedev falters on the big stages. Defeats in his opening matches in the last two Roland Garros and in Wimbledon and the US Open last year (all against players with lower rankings), lack of energy and a game plan, significant disconnections in the final stages of each set... the symptoms and diagnosis are clear, and his fall to Jan-Lennard Struff reinforces the most pessimistic thoughts related to the Russian.

What does Medvedev think of his defeat at Wimbledon?

Break ahead in the first set. Break ahead in the second set. Double break ahead (he was up 5-2 and 0-30) in the third set. It didn't matter: the fuses blew, and Daniil faded, a flame as strong as it was weak in its decline. It is strange that this happens in Grand Slams, the terrain where the best rackets on the circuit have the most room to maneuver; in Medvedev's case, it seems to have the opposite effect, as if he is convinced that taming his mental demons for so long is an impossible task.

"It's disappointing to lose after having breaks in all the sets. It's about finding solutions to win, and I didn't find them. I should do better. I didn't serve as I would have liked. I didn't play as I should have in the tiebreaks. He was better in the crucial moments. My season has been one of constant ups and downs, with more low points lately. What can I say? That I'm disappointed, because I felt I could do very well here at Wimbledon. It's not just about the results, but the style of tennis you play. I know that if I play well, I can achieve great results. Today was not the case, and my second round was already questionable. There have also been good moments this year. It's about moving forward," Medvedev pointed out summarizing his performance in a brief press conference.

Has Daniil Medvedev's decline begun?

The Russian is part of a generation sandwiched between the (not so final) end of the Big Three and the emergence of two monsters destined to make history (Alcaraz and Sinner). They have been part of (and the biggest victims of) a silent yet impactful change in terms of speed and power in hitting; some contemporaries seem to feel that current tennis has left them behind (Tsitsipas), others have held on at the top until they found their reward (Zverev)... and the Russian seems to be in no man's land.

Daniil Medvedev’s Grand Slam record since 2025 needs to be studied:

R2, R1, R1, R1, R4, R1, R3

4 first-round exits in his last 7 Slams and just one second week appearance. When will it end?
— Tennis Weekly Podcast (@tennisweeklypod) July 3, 2026

He managed to reinvent himself, sought solutions relentlessly to get out of the slump, changed coaches, and regained some of the identity that led him to win the US Open... but he has not achieved the consistency and stability to sustain those peaks of high level play. Moreover, in the Grand Slams, it seems that Daniil has even less confidence in himself, a harsh phrase when linked to a man who made his 'poker face' the banner of his great successes. He still has several seasons left in his career, but his unequivocal playing style, the weariness he displays in his body language at times, and the speed at which the new generations play are increasingly leaving Medvedev out of the game. His decline intensifies in Grand Slams, the arenas where he leaves his mark on this sport... and Daniil does not seem to have new or different solutions at his disposal that would give us a different story. Will the Russian impress us again and become a force to be reckoned with in the Majors? Time will tell, but Medvedev does not appear to lean towards yes.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev y un declive silencioso en los grandes escenarios: ¿cuánto queda del mejor Daniil?

Daniil Medvedev