"Daniil Medvedev is in some horrible place; Shocking" - Tennis fans baffled by Russian's "bizarre" back-to-back losses at Cincinnati Open and Montreal

Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the ongoing Cincinnati Open after suffering a straight sets defeat to Jiri Lehecka in the second round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. Medvedev's latest loss came mere days after he was ousted from the National Bank Open in Montreal, another prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament, by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. In light of the Russian's wretched run of form, tennis fans have shared their reactions on social media.

Medvedev, the World No. 5 and the No. 3 seed in Montreal, was stunned by Spain's Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 6-1, 2-6, on Thursday, August 8. A similar fate awaited the former World No. 1, who was the No. 4 seed in Cincinnati, on Wednesday, August 14, as Lehecka capitalized ruthlessly on the Russian's faltering first serve. Medvedev did have five break point opportunities, but could not convert any of them.

Widely regarded as a hardcourt specialist, the 2021 US Open champion's back-to-back early exits at two Masters 1000 events left the fans baffled. Prominent tennis journalist Jose Morgado took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his shock at Medvedev's recent losses. The defeats are particularly concerning for the Russian as the 2024 US Open is just around the corner.

"Medvedev is in some horrible place. Kinda shocking after a very positive Wimbledon (d. Sinner and pushed Alcaraz for a bit). Back to back R2 losses in Canada & Cincinnati, tournaments where he usually does well. Won't be a top 4 seed at the US Open," Morgado wrote.

Several fans echoed Morgado's sentiments about the Russian.

"Medvedev is in freefall. Wow," one fan wrote.

"Bizarre…. I mean he is a hard court specialist??!!" commented another fan.

"Unbelievable to see him struggle like this on hard court," another fan chimed in.

"Medvedev back to back first round exits. Oh my god. Unfathomable. Absolutely horrifying start. Can’t imagine him making it far at the US Open now. Playing terrible," yet another fan commented.

Another set of fans criticized the World No. 5 for his poor displays of late, suggesting that he tends to give up when things don't go his way. Some also believed that Medvedev's confrontational on-court personality takes a lot away from his game.

"The way Medvedev just gives up when he’s losing is so irritating. You can literally see the fight leave his body," wrote a fan.

"He needs to focus on his tennis and stop arguing with everybody. Looses concentration," another fan commented.

"Looked horrific tonight, barely tried to put up a fight and gave up in all respects as soon as he got down that break in the second. He ain’t winning anything for a while," another fan weighed in.

Daniil Medvedev's title drought stretches back to last year's Italian Open

Daniil Medvedev (Source: Getty)

Medvedev won five ATP Tour-level titles last year, with the last of them coming at the Italian Open in May 2023, where he defeated Holger Rune in the final. However, since then, despite reaching multiple finals, the Russian has had to settle for second-best in all of them.

The most notable final defeats since his title triumph in Rome last year came at the 2023 US Open and the 2024 Australian Open. In the final of the 2023 US Open, Medvedev was beaten in straight sets by Novak Djokovic.

At this year's Australian Open, the Russian took a commanding two-sets-to-love lead against Jannik Sinner. However, accumulated fatigue from multiple lengthy matches earlier on in the tournament took its toll on Medvedev, which led to a remarkable comeback win for Sinner.