"Not too late, with Jack Sock in doubles": Daniil Medvedev crashes out during Winston-Salem Open loss pondering pickleball career

Wednesday, 26 August 2026 at 11:00

Daniil Medvedev decided to play this week instead of having a week off before the US Open and of course that can go one of two ways realistically either it can be a great tonic to try and get form ready for the latest major, or in the case of Medvedev it sends a player into a spiral.

Medvedev was facing off against Martin Damm Jr at the Winston-Salem Open and needed a wildcard to even get into the tournament as he looked to gain some form and confidence.

Instead Damm produced a strong display to defeat the former World No.1 7-5, 6-3. It was Medvedev's fourth defeat in his previous five matches since Wimbledon and leaves him with more questions than answers including potentially a career in pickleball.

As despite losing out one feature remained and that was the fact that he had a typical Medvedev crashout for all to see. Medvedev's frustration produced one of the more entertaining facets of the encounter. During a changeover, he joked that perhaps it was time to consider a new career.

He said about joining Jack Sock on the pickleball court in doubles as well as mooting a career in curling as it perfectly summed up his frame of mind surrounding the defeat. Damm was superb and played bold and aggressive tennis to seal his first top 10 win. He denied both break points and secured two return games to emerge on top and claim the win.

Nobody does a crash out like Daniil Medvedev. pic.twitter.com/QTE4HfmW1A
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 26, 2026

Medvedev to curling or pickleball?

Medvedev struggled to impose himself on Damm and find the consistency that made him part of the elite. Too many unforced errors came off his racquet and Damm provided a late break in the opening set and claimed the final three games to seal the deal in style.

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The defeat was particularly frustrating given that Medvedev had chosen this event for more game time before the US Open. But now instead of competing early at the US Open in regards to practicing, he now heads there later having lost early and with a hilarious viral moment but not the wins he wanted. “Maybe I should start a career in pickleball. It’s not too late, with Jack Sock in doubles. Every sport on the planet is better now, even curling,” Medvedev said.

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