“Very entertaining but not good for the tournament”: Daniil Medvedev racquet smash draws Boris Becker’s criticism

One of the favourites to take the title Down Under started his campaign with a scare. Of course, we are talking about Daniil Medvedev, who survived a five-set battle against young Kasidit Samrej in a match where the three-time finalist had to dig deep to avoid a massive upset.

A win is a win, and Medvedev will be pleased to book his spot in the second round of the Grand Slam. Credit must also go to Samrej, who put on a valiant effort against the world number five. Medvedev himself expressed his respect for his opponent after the match.

Daniil Medvedev Versus Kasidit Samrej: Careers at Different Stages

The opening round of major competitions, such as the Australian Open, always provides the possibility of upsets. This year, Alexander Michelsen stunned the number 11 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. Similarly, Medvedev’s first match proved to be much tougher than expected.

While Medvedev flies under the radar when discussing potential winners, his experience on hard courts and resilience against quality opponents make him a strong contender.

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Medvedev, a former world number one, was the first player outside the "Big Four" to achieve that ranking since Andy Roddick in 2004. He also has a Grand Slam title to his name, having won the US Open in 2021. With such credentials, Medvedev is expected to challenge for more titles as his career progresses. However, the current fifth seed likely didn’t expect such a difficult test from Samrej, a wildcard entry ranked just above 400.

The young player, competing in his first Grand Slam singles event, made history as the first male Thai player to do so since 2012. He gave it his all and nearly masterminded what could have been one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.

The Match

There is always pressure going into the opening round of a Grand Slam, as players aim to start their campaigns on the right foot. This pressure is magnified at the Australian Open, the first major tournament of the season. Many expected Medvedev to secure a straightforward victory against the world number 418. However, Samrej had other ideas. At one point, the Thai player even led two sets to one, raising the possibility of a monumental upset.

Ultimately, Samrej’s lack of experience at this level caught up with him. By the start of the fourth set, the physical toll on the young prospect became evident. Medvedev, using his experience and resilience, powered through to clinch the match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. After the contest, Medvedev praised his opponent, saying, “But yeah, if he plays like this every match, his life can be good.”

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(VIDEO) Daniil Medvedev takes out camera with racquet in furious outburst during comeback win over World No.418

Despite the thrilling match, one of the most talked-about moments came when Medvedev smashed the net camera with his racquet out of frustration. Reflecting on the incident post-match, Medvedev said:“Honestly, I hope it’s not too big because the fine is usually for breaking the racquet, and the camera is going to cost some. Still, I don’t think a GoPro is that expensive. What I have to say is the camera was powerful because my racquet didn’t handle the damage, but the camera did. It broke down, but not one piece was going out from the camera. Very strong. I was astonished because when I did it, I didn’t want to smash the racquet in pieces. When I saw the racquet, I was like, ‘Okay, time to take a new one, I guess.’”

Boris Becker and Samrej React

Boris Becker 

Tennis legend Boris Becker weighed in on the situation during Eurosport Germany’s Matchball Becker, calling the incident “not suitable for the tournament.”

The German said, “He’s just become a father for the second time, so he should have more control over himself. But that’s how we know him. He’s a hothead. It’s very entertaining for us, but not good for the tournament. I’m curious to see how much of a fine he’ll have to pay.”

Samrej also shared his thoughts on the incident, saying, “Honestly, I’ve seen him like this before, right? I’m a bit shocked.” He added, “I lost two points after that. I tried to focus on myself again, and yeah, that’s why I returned.”

Next Up

Medvedev will now face American qualifier Learner Tien in the second round. Like Medvedev, Tien also comes off a hard-fought victory, having bested Camilo Ugo Carabelli to secure a showdown with the fifth seed.

Medvedev remains a phenomenal talent, and you won’t count him out when it comes to lifting the trophy at the end of the tournament.

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