Daniil Medvedev reveals the perfect movie role after bizarre US Open bird drama: ‘You think is a bad guy’

Thursday, 03 September 2026 at 20:33

Daniil Medvedev has already decided what kind of character he would want to play if the US Open were turned into a movie, and it would not be the obvious choice. The 2021 champion has embraced the idea of a much more complicated storyline, one in which the audience spends most of the film convinced that he is the villain.

That storyline would fit the Russian particularly well at a tournament where his personality and relationship with the New York crowd have often made him one of the most entertaining figures on the grounds. But this year, Medvedev is also building a more conventional sporting narrative, having reached the third round without dropping a set.

Medvedev opened his campaign with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Hugo Gaston before following it up against wildcard Sebastian Gorzny. The Russian needed 126 minutes to complete a 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory on Armstrong Stadium, although the American made him work considerably harder in the third set.

After the match, Medvedev was asked a question that had little to do with his tennis: if the US Open were a movie, would he rather be the hero or the villain? His answer produced perhaps the most fitting description of the role he could play in his own New York story.

Medvedev wants the perfect plot twist

Medvedev did not simply choose the villain. Instead, he imagined a character whose apparent intentions would keep the audience guessing for most of the movie before everything changed in the final moments.

“It’s super easy. For about 50% of the movie, you know this kind of movie where you don’t know what the ending is and you try to guess who is the bad guy,” Medvedev said.

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“I wanna be the guy who you’re gonna watch the movie and almost til the end think he’s a bad guy, he’s not good. Then at the last second of the movie you understand that he was the best guy ever. He was really good. And it was some other guy who was the villain. This would be perfect.”

The answer captures the kind of unpredictability that has long surrounded Medvedev in New York. He has already been a US Open finalist, a champion and one of the tournament's most distinctive personalities, and he now has another opportunity to make a deep run.

For the moment, however, his story remains far from its final act. Medvedev is one of only three former Grand Slam champions still competing in the men’s draw, alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, and another victory would take him into the fourth round.

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Medvedev survives the third-set test

The Russian looked firmly in control against Gorzny through the opening two sets. He dictated proceedings from the baseline and consistently put pressure on the wildcard, eventually taking the first two sets 6-1, 6-3. Gorzny responded in the third, but Medvedev remained composed when the match became more competitive.

“I was happy with my level. I felt the first two sets, he was not playing the best and I managed to be strong and take him on,” Medvedev said. “The third set was much more competitive, it was a really tough moment, tough points.”

Daniil Medvedev hits a forehand at the US Open first round.

Medvedev finished with 38 winners and 22 unforced errors, while winning 87% of his first-service points. He also started four consecutive service games in the third set at 0-15 and had to save a break point at 6-5 before finally serving out the match. “I put a bit more pressure on him than he did on me, managed to stay tough and win.”

The contest also featured an unusual interruption when two birds landed on the net during a lengthy second-set rally. Play continued for around 45 seconds before one flew away as Medvedev struck what appeared to be a winner, only for the umpire to call a let.

“I saw them straight away, and I thought the point would stop straight away. But it didn’t. Then we play for 45 seconds, and the moment I hit the winner, we say, ‘Stop,’” Medvedev explained. “I was like, why? We’re playing for 45 seconds, but it’s okay.

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"I was not happy with the decision but it is what it is and you cannot do anything with it. The situation was pretty crazy.”

The victory was Medvedev’s 35th in the US Open main draw, the fourth-highest total among active ATP players behind Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. He will next face either No. 26 seed Arthur Rinderknech or Jaume Munar, with another chapter of his New York movie waiting to be written.

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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