Medvedev in trouble: Humiliating defeat in Monte Carlo.

At the Court Rainier III in Monte Carlo, a genuine reality shock unfolded that will be etched in the memories of tennis fans. The promise was a titanic duel between Matteo Berrettini and Daniil Medvedev, but what transpired was a true nightmare for the Russian. In a clash that ended in a humiliating 6-0, 6-0 in just 50 minutes, Medvedev delivered a performance to forget, culminating in a spectacle worthy of a dark comedy-drama film.

The setting was perfect for a great battle at the start of the tournament, but from the very first game, Medvedev appeared disconnected. Gradually, the Moscow player, who was making his tenth appearance at the Principality’s Masters 1000, crumbled, delivering one of the worst displays of his career, filled with glaring errors and a complete inability to respond to Berrettini’s pressure.

The most comical moment occurred when, already trailing 0-6, 0-2, Medvedev exploded with frustration. During the changeovers, the Russian threw his racket to the ground six consecutive times, smashing the equipment in front of an audience that reacted with a mix of astonishment and amusement, even chanting some “Olés” in clear provocation. A spectacle rarely seen at an event of this magnitude that left everyone talking.

The statistics from the match reveal how disastrous Medvedev’s performance was: only 36% of first serves in play, a meager total of 9 points won on serve, 8 points won on return, 3 winners, and a concerning tally of 28 unforced errors. To make matters worse, the number of double faults reached five, an absolutely uncommon statistic for a player of the Russian’s caliber.

This clash not only marked Medvedev’s worst defeat in a long time but also raised doubts about his mental and physical state to continue competing at the highest level. The brutal contrast between the performance of Italian Berrettini and the total blackout of the Russian tennis player was the dominant note of a match that promises to be analyzed and debated for weeks in the tennis world.

Daniil Medvedev, the star who seemed untouchable, found himself completely dominated and turned into a figure of extreme frustration in front of the crowd, which did not hesitate to seize every moment to celebrate the fall of the favorite. This episode at the ATP Monte-Carlo is undoubtedly a wake-up call for the Russian and for all those following his career, showing that even the greatest can have days to forget.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.