Daniil Medvedev has started off his 2026 season in perfect fashion by winning the Brisbane International title.
Medvedev finds playing in Australia stressful, but he has just beaten Brandon Nakashima in the final of the Brisbane International.
The experienced Russian, who is currently 13th in the ATP Tour rankings, defeated the American 6-2, 7-6(7-1).
Medvedev has now won 22 ATP titles during his career after his success in Australia, with all 22 titles remarkably arriving at different events.
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Daniil Medvedev thinks Australian Open fans love him
Given his world ranking, he was labelled an underdog heading into the Australian Open, with Medvedev asked if he thinks such a situation will help him gain extra support from the fans at the Grand Slam.
He replied: “You know, I think it will be fun. To be an underdog, it depends. If we look in the long run, for sure I’m the underdog, because it’s been some time I haven’t been in the later stages of a Grand Slam, I’m outside of top 10.
“But probably first four rounds or something I’m not going to be underdog. If I count right, it’s going to be four rounds. Three, four, whatever.
“But again, I was three times in the final there, and I do feel like in general people in Melbourne love me. Maybe a big thing to say, but I hope so.
“I’m going to try to do my best exactly like here. Enjoy my tennis, enjoy the game, enjoy the fight, and hopefully like this people can support me.”
Daniil Medvedev thinks some fans like it when he’s angry
Medvedev has quite the history at the Australian Open, having reached and lost the final on three occasions.
After reaching that stage in 2024, the former world number one suffered a shock second round loss to qualifier Learner Tien in 2025.
The Russian also discussed his calmer approach in Brisbane, with Medvedev having often lost control of his emotions in the past.
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He said of juggling his emotions: “The most important is I always stay true to myself, so meaning when I get angry and even I do bad things, well, sometimes I have to apologize, but it’s the way I am. It’s my emotions.
“But I also know that these emotions, they can be fun, can be a bit too much, but many times they can cost me a bit of energy and a bit of concentration during the match. So of course I always said it’s better to stay calm. It’s easier, but then that’s something I couldn’t do.
“So I’m happy that here I managed to find kind of a flow which I was following, and I do think there are so many fans around the world, so some people like angry Medvedev and some people like calm Medvedev.
“If I play well, if I stay true to myself, there is going to be people who love me and people who hate me as well.”
Medvedev has undoubtedly lost his temper more than most players in recent history, with his anger often directed at officials.
But his latest approach in Brisbane worked wonders, with a more mature Medvedev likely to go further than a frustrated Medvedev at the upcoming Australian Open.
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