Daniil Medvedev told he simply has to 'rethink' his recent comments after shock defeat at the Rotterdam Open

Daniil Medvedev told he simply has to ‘rethink’ his recent comments after shock defeat at the Rotterdam Open

Posted by author February 6, 2025 Tennis

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Daniil Medvedev has been urged to rethink his strategy following another early tournament exit.

The Russian has not had a good start to 2025, after winning just two matches so far in addition to two surprising losses.

After Medvedev beat Stan Wawrinka in three sets at the Rotterdam Open, Medvedev faced qualifier Mattia Bellucci.

The 28-year-old was taken to three sets once again, but this time he came up on the losing side, as the Italian secured one of the biggest wins of his career.

Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images

What has Daniil Medvedev been told to change after his Rotterdam Open defeat?

For the second successive tournament, Daniil Medvedev lost early at the hands of a qualifier.

At the Australian Open Medvedev was beaten by Learner Tien in a five-set thriller, before Bellucci claimed a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 in two hours and 55 minutes in Rotterdam.

This was just Medvedev’s fourth match of 2025, after he chose not to play any warm-up events before the Australian Open.

This is something former World number five Jimmy Arias believes the 2021 US Open champion needs to “rethink”, which was supported by Brett Haber on Tennis Channel.

“Do you know what Medvedev this off season in terms of his tennis preparation? Nothing,” he commented. “He said he stayed home with his family, he and his wife had their second child.

“He said he really didn’t pick up a racket for a month and he said he is never going to play a tune up tournament again for the Australian Open. Maybe he needs to rethink that!”

Has Daniil Medvedev’s game been found out?

As Arias and Haber continued to discuss Medvedev’s game, the former thinks players have found the most effective way to play against him.

The former World number one is one of the best at covering the court and he is very difficult to hit through, but Arias thinks his rivals are starting to vary their game by barging him off the baseline and keeping points short where possible.

“He doesn’t like playing lefties. I’m not sure if that’s what it is. I think players have finally figured out that you can’t hit through him,” Arias said.

“If you try to overpower him when he’s way back and defending, you’re not going to get it done.

“You have to open the court, you have got to bring him forward, you got to serve and volley, and players have finally started doing that.”