“I would not be surprised if he wins a Slam”: Daniil Medvedev backs Tsitsipas Grand Slam return despite ranking drop

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 06:30

Daniil Medvedev offered a notable assessment of Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, expressing surprise not at his recent decline, but at how quickly the Greek could still re-emerge at the highest level of the sport. The Russian pointed to Tsitsipas’ underlying shot-making quality as a factor that keeps him within reach of Grand Slam contention despite a prolonged dip in form over the past two seasons.

The Greek has fallen outside the top 80, a sharp contrast to his previous status as a consistent presence in the latter stages of major tournaments. Once regarded as one of the leading figures of the Next Gen cohort, his results have stalled in recent years, with inconsistency across surfaces and limited deep runs at Grand Slams.

The timing of Medvedev’s comments is significant given Tsitsipas’ mixed trajectory at Wimbledon, where he has struggled historically to translate his overall Tour-level ability into sustained success. The Greek has remained competitive in spells but has not produced the level of continuity required to return to late-stage contention at majors.

Despite that backdrop, Medvedev’s remarks frame Tsitsipas less as a player in structural decline and more as someone capable of rapid resurgence depending on form and confidence shifts.

“He definitely has the ability” — Medvedev highlights Tsitsipas’ tools

Medvedev arrived at Wimbledon following a straight-sets win over Marin Čilić in the first round, producing a controlled performance on grass to begin his campaign. The former world No. 1 looked comfortable in the conditions, closing out a routine victory with minimal physical strain.

However, in his post-match press conference, one of the central topics was his assessment of long-time rival Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has endured a sharp drop in ranking and results over the past seasons. The discussion reflected both players’ shared history as part of the same generation that was expected to succeed the Big Three era.

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Medvedev was direct in his evaluation of Tsitsipas’ technical foundation, emphasising that his game still contains all the components required for success at the highest level. “You never know, but he definitely has the ability,” Medvedev said. “I would not be surprised if at any moment — in two weeks, one year, or five years — he wins a Slam or reaches semifinals.”

The Russian expanded on Tsitsipas’ skill set, highlighting his all-court profile when operating at full level. “He can produce great shots: serve, forehand, volley,” he added. “We have seen him struggle a bit recently, but I would not be surprised if he finds something again and starts producing strong results in a row.”

Their rivalry provides statistical context for the comments. Medvedev leads their head-to-head 10–5, although Tsitsipas has registered key wins, including their most recent meeting earlier this season in Doha. The pair have also crossed paths repeatedly in Grand Slam contexts, including semi-finals at the Australian Open and quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Surface adaptation and broader ATP Tour evolution

Medvedev also used his press conference to address the challenges of adapting to grass, describing surface transition as one of the most demanding aspects of the calendar. “I will be honest: I hate changing surfaces,” the former world No. 1 said. “That is why I often try to play the first grass tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, because I know the first tournament on grass is tough for me. I need time to adapt.”

He added that the physical adjustment is as important as the technical one, particularly in terms of movement and injury prevention. “Physically, you need to be careful because it’s a completely different surface in terms of movement and muscle use. Injury prevention is important,” Medvedev said. “Tennis-wise, the best way is repetition.”

Another topic raised was the broader evolution of the ATP Tour and increasing depth across the rankings. Medvedev noted that the perceived rise in speed and intensity is closely linked to the improved level of lower-ranked players.

“It’s very relative. Every time we come to a tournament, people say the court is faster or slower, or that the balls are different. It’s subjective,” he said. “In general, the top 100 is probably stronger than when I started. That may explain higher average speed. Players ranked 70 to 100 now probably play better tennis and hit harder. Young players also come through hitting the ball extremely hard. That raises the average level.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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