Daniil Medvedev, the Russian tennis star, has candidly opened up about his recent loss in Miami, admitting that he was not able to perform at his best. The former champion, who had a promising run in Indian Wells, reaching his first Masters 1000 semi-final in a year, failed to replicate his performance in Miami, facing a crushing defeat against Jaume Munar. Medvedev bowed out of the competition after losing 6-2, 6-3 in a match that lasted just over an hour.
Following the game, Medvedev revealed that he had been battling physical issues that affected his performance on the court. Despite giving his all in the recovery process post-Indian Wells and putting in the hard yards to perform well in Miami, the Russian ace couldn’t bring his best game to the fore. Even though he felt confident about his game during a practice set a day before the match, he was unable to carry that momentum into the match against Munar.
The 2023 Miami Open champion struggled to find his rhythm, with his serving and returning game failing him. Medvedev’s usually fiery temperament was on display as he vented his frustration on the balls, calling them unplayable. The result was a disappointing collection of just five games and a fourth defeat this season against players ranked outside the top-50.
However, it would be unfair to attribute Medvedev’s loss solely to his physical issues. Munar, who has shown significant improvement on hard courts this season, played a decisive role in the outcome of the match. The Spaniard defended both break points, kept the pressure on his top-10 opponent, and succeeded in claiming 45% of the points.
Munar capitalized on Medvedev’s struggles, creating 11 break opportunities and converting three of them, effectively controlling the scoreboard. His impressive tally of 17 winners and 14 unforced errors, coupled with 32 errors from Medvedev, underlined the Spaniard’s dominance. Munar’s dominance from the baseline, where he built a 40-23 advantage, was a critical factor in his victory.
Medvedev’s struggle was evident from the start of the match itself. Despite saving two break points early in the game, his play was erratic, leading to a loss of serve and putting him on the back foot. Munar seized the opportunity, playing aggressively and making inroads on Medvedev’s serve.
In the second set, Munar continued to pile on the pressure, breaking Medvedev in the fourth game. Medvedev’s frustration was evident as he received a code violation warning and a point penalty in the fifth game. Despite saving two break points and a match point, Medvedev was unable to turn the tide in his favor.
Following his defeat, Medvedev acknowledged his physical limitations. “I was not at 100% physically. However, I tried my best to get into the match and fight,” he said. The Russian star admitted that he had some issues post-Indian Wells but had been feeling better each day. “I would not play if I knew I was not ready to win. I trained and almost won a practice set against a strong rival yesterday. I tried my best but could not perform at a high level. Jaume played a very good match and beat me convincingly,” added Medvedev.