By Richard Pagliaro Monday, January 19, 2026
Image Source: Brisbane International Facebook
Daniil Medvedev is playing the major myth buster.
Former world No. 1 Medvedev says there are major misunderstandings about him in the men’s tennis community.
man Hall of Famer John McEnroe People who are known as “chess masters” on the court are often described as baseline counter-punchers.
Medvedev said this was not true.
Instead, when Medvedev is playing his best tennis, he asserts himself as an aggressive baseline player, playing offensive tennis from a defensive position on the court.
“I think when I’m at my best, when I’m top two, one, three in the world, I always like, even in the Grand Slams, I feel like I’m always considered a defensive player because I know how to put the ball on the court and I can have a 40-shot game,” Medvedev told the media in Melbourne. “But then I might be playing against big hitters like Rublev, Felix. When I’m at my best, I come out of the game and I’m like, OK, I hit 40 winners and they hit 20 because I defended, I tried to make contact, etc. So I’m like, who’s defending?
“I think when I’m playing well, I’m going to be aggressive, especially on serve. On return, with my position, it’s harder to be aggressive, but once I hit a good spot, I try to step in.”
In fact, Medvedev won 47 games, 11 more than his opponents Jesper DeJong–He won the first round of the Australian Open 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2) at Margaret Court Arena.
Three-time AO finalist Medvedev improved to 6-0 on the season after winning his 22nd career title at the Brisbane International. Medvedev said faster court conditions in Brisbane and Melbourne contributed to his early success in the season, encouraging him to attack aggressively and achieve his goals rather than wait for things to happen.
“That’s what I’ve been doing well this year. When I’m playing well, that’s what I’m like [aggressive] “So people are saying I look more aggressive than last year, which is good, because last year I didn’t have a good feel for the game, and the feeling was that I was too defensive, which I didn’t want to do,” Medvedev said. So it’s such a great feeling. “
