Home / Sports / Tsitsipas Beats Medvedev: Rivalry's Faded Glory
Tsitsipas Beats Medvedev: Rivalry's Faded Glory
19 Feb
Summary
- Tsitsipas defeated Medvedev at the Qatar Open, marking a less consequential match.
- Both players had difficult 2025 seasons, impacting their rankings and game.
- Their intense rivalry, once a defining feature, now shows signs of fading.
In a second-round match at the Qatar Open on Wednesday, Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Daniil Medvedev, a result that highlighted the waning importance of their former rivalry. Once a heated contest between rising stars, their matches have become less consequential as both players navigated difficult 2025 seasons.
Medvedev, who reached world No. 1 in 2022, experienced a significant rankings slide in 2025, dropping from No. 5 to outside the top 10 due to shoulder and hernia issues. Tsitsipas also faced a tumultuous year, with his ranking falling from No. 11 to No. 36, accompanied by coaching changes and a back injury.
Their intense on-court battles, particularly their first meeting in 2018, were marked by significant animosity and memorable verbal exchanges. However, as they mature and face new challenges from emerging players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, their rivalry has entered a more subdued phase.
Tsitsipas's 6-3, 6-4 victory over Medvedev was his best win by ranking since mid-2024. While the match lacked the previous intensity, it marked a significant win for Tsitsipas, emphasizing the current distant state of their once-defining feud in the ATP Tour.
