(VIDEO) Part comedy part confusion as Daniil Medvedev storms off court without bag after upset loss to Alexei Popyrin
ATP
In a match that finished well past midnight and had more plot twists than a Netflix thriller, Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Canadian Open in Toronto, and seemingly forgot how to exit a tennis court.
Creating one of the more eyebrow-raising moments of the tennis season, the former world No. 1 was stunned by reigning National Bank Open champion Alexei Popyrin in a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 thriller, then walked straight off the court without so much as glancing at his bag.
The moment, caught live on broadcast and quickly clipped for social media, sparked an instant buzz, part comedy, part confusion.
The man who once won this very tournament in 2021, and made a career out of calculated composure, looked completely undone by the Aussie upstart.
It’s past midnight, and Daniil Medvedev wants to catch some sleep. 😅#NBO25 | @NBOtoronto pic.twitter.com/OesrOqllsQ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 1, 2025
Of course before the viral exit, there was a match and what a match it was.
Set 1
The first set started cagey but quickly turned messy. Despite being out-hit 17 to 5 in winners, Medvedev capitalized on Popyrin’s erratic shot selection and whopping 25 unforced errors to sneak away with the opener.
The Russian’s serve wasn’t flawless, just 43% of first serves in, but he made up for it with a rock-solid second delivery, winning 54% of those points compared to Popyrin’s 25%.
Medvedev broke twice and saved one of two break points, playing his signature brand of frustration tennis. Popyrin, meanwhile, came forward often (12 net approaches in the set) but lacked consistency from the baseline, especially when pressured on his second serve.
Set 2
The second set flipped the match’s narrative. Popyrin tightened his game, cleaned up his errors, and elevated his serve, while Medvedev’s game became increasingly brittle under pressure.
Popyrin posted 13 winners to Medvedev’s 7, served at 61%, and won an impressive 86% of his first-serve points. He went a perfect 10-for-10 at net, demonstrating confidence and variety.
Though Medvedev had more chances (7 break points), he only converted none, as Popyrin saved all of them with fearless hitting and wide serves.
Medvedev also struggled with four double faults and dipped to just 42% on second-serve points.
Set 3
The third set unfolded at a brisker pace, with Popyrin playing some of his most disciplined tennis of the season.
While Medvedev slightly improved his first serve percentage to 65 and tallied seven aces, he struggled once again to do damage on return. Popyrin, showing no signs of nerves, won 88 percent of his first serve points and continued to dominate at net, where he finished the match a perfect four for four in the decider.
He consolidated it with a flawless service game, sealing the set 6-4 and the match in just under two and a half hours.
Medvedev, visibly stunned, offered the customary handshake but skipped the routine of packing up his gear.
Instead, he walked off the court without his bag, leaving fans puzzled and photographers with a striking image of a top seed unravelled. It was a rare public glimpse of how rattled the Russian had become, especially given the surface where he is traditionally so comfortable.
Popyrin, meanwhile, marched into the third round with a swagger that echoed last year’s title run.
Up next for the Aussie is a showdown with Holger Rune, a rematch of their fiery battle at the Rome Open last year.
For Medvedev, the early Toronto exit serves as a reality check ahead of Cincinnati Open and the US Open. He will need to regroup quickly if he hopes to contend in New York.
The win was another notch in Popyrin’s growing reputation as a big-match player.
Meanwhile, the image of Medvedev walking away empty-handed, both literally and figuratively, will likely linger longer than the match itself.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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