Daniil Medvedev, the enigmatic Russian tennis star, has acknowledged his struggles in adapting his exceptional singles prowess to the complexities of doubles at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Medvedev, known for his self-deprecating humor, quipped, “Sometimes I can play doubles well, but in principle four people on the court disturbs me.” After partnering with compatriot Mirra Andreeva in a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, Medvedev admitted to making uncharacteristic mistakes. “I make mistakes on those balls that I never make mistakes on in singles, although the court is smaller.”
The 2021 US Open champion expressed disappointment in his inability to showcase his versatility. “I wanted to prove to myself that I can. But I couldn’t. It always hurts, but it happens. That’s life.”
Competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, Medvedev is making his second Olympic appearance. In Tokyo 2020, he reached the quarterfinals in men’s singles. The No. 4 seed remains in contention in singles after a comfortable victory over Rinky Hijikata.
However, doubles proved to be a different challenge, even alongside Andreeva, who recently reached the semifinals of Roland Garros. Fans captured Medvedev’s occasional awkward moments on the court against Errani, known for her slow serve.
Despite his doubles setback, Medvedev will continue his Olympic journey in the singles second round against Austria’s Sebastian Ofner. The Russian star will be eager to prove his mettle in the more familiar territory of singles competition.
