By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, January 19, 2026
Photo credit: Brisbane International Facebook
Daniil Medvedev is playing major myth buster.
Former world No. 1 Medvedev said there’s a major misconception in men’s tennis about him.
The man Hall of Famer John McEnroe calls “a chess master” on court is often described as a baseline counter puncher.
Medvedev said that’s not true.
Instead, when he’s playing his best tennis, Medvedev asserts he’s an aggressive baseliner who plays offense tennis from defensive positions on court.
“I think when I played my best, so when I was top 2, top 1, top 3 in the world, I always, like, even Grand Slams, I feel I am always considered kind of a defensive player, because I know how to put the ball in the court, and I can have these 40-shot rallies,” Medvedev told the media in Melbourne. “But then I would be playing someone like maybe Rublev, Felix, big hitters. When I was in my top shape, I go out from the match, and I’m, like, okay, I hit 40 winners and they hit 20, because I defend and I tried to touch the ball, et cetera. I’m, like, who is defensive, then?
“I think when I’m playing good, I am aggressive, especially on my serve. On the return, with my position, it’s a bit more tougher to be aggressive, but once I hit a good spot, I try to step in.”
In fact, Medvedev belted 47 winners—11 more than opponent Jesper de Jong—in his 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2) Australian Open first-round win on Margaret Court Arena.
Three-time AO finalist Medvedev improved to 6-0 on the season following his run to his 22nd career championship at the Brisbane International. Medvedev said quicker court conditions in Brisbane and Melbourne have contributed to his early season success encouraging him to attack his shots and make it happen rather than waiting for something to happen.
“That’s what I have been doing good this year. When I’m playing well, I am this type of [aggressive] player,” Medvedev said. “So people say that I seem more aggressive than last year, it’s great, because last year I was not feeling my game well, and that’s when the feeling is that I go too defensive, which I don’t want to. So it’s great that it feels like this.”
