Daniil Medvedev has once again voiced his concerns about the quality of tennis balls on the ATP Tour, attributing his early exit from the Paris Masters to this ongoing issue. The fifth-ranked player faced a tough match against unseeded Australian Alexei Popyrin, who edged him out in a thrilling three-set battle, finishing 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) in Bercy.
A former champion at the Paris Masters in 2020 and a finalist the following year, Medvedev has struggled to find his form at this event recently, failing to win a match in the past three editions. After his defeat, he reiterated his frustrations regarding the balls used in ATP tournaments, which he believes have contributed to his recent performance issues.
“First rounds are always very tough for me because now the matches I was winning before maybe 3-3, I cannot do it anymore,” he explained. He went on to describe the intensity of his recent matches, stating, “Every match I play I have to fight. I have to win 7-6 in the third. And sometimes I lose.” This streak of early exits marks his worst performance in first-round matches since at least 2018 on hard courts, and he emphasizes that there’s a reason behind it.
“I don’t want to be the one who is crying when he’s losing the first round,” he continued. “But I made semis in Beijing and quarters in Shanghai. I lost only to Alcaraz and Sinner.” While acknowledging that some players might prefer the current balls, he insists, “I’m crying because it disadvantages me. If you take six balls out of the new balls out of the can, if you look closely and you bounce them, there are going to be six different balls. I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
Despite securing his spot at the ATP Finals, this season has been a challenging one for the former world No. 1. Medvedev has not lifted a title since May 2023 and has not reached a final since Indian Wells in March. Top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have repeatedly thwarted his progress throughout the year.
Heading into his sixth consecutive ATP Finals, Medvedev acknowledges that he is grappling with confidence issues. “Tennis is very important, also confidence. The problem is that I will arrive in Turin without confidence, so I will try to build it through training and practice time; this is very important to me,” he admitted.
With the toughest competitors awaiting him in Turin, Medvedev knows he needs to be in peak physical condition. “Besides this, you also have to be in perfect physical condition, but tennis is the most important of all. You need to make a winning return when you need it, for example.” As he prepares for this crucial event, the pressure is on for Medvedev to reclaim his confidence and competitive edge.