Daniil Medvedev has enjoyed a brilliant tennis career, winning a Grand Slam title and becoming world number one.
The 29-year-old won his sole Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021, stunning Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in the final.
Medvedev became the ATP Tour’s number one-ranked player the following year, holding the top spot for 16 total weeks.
The likeable Russian has lost three Grand Slam finals since, and now finds himself ranked 11th in the world.
- 2022 Australian Open F – Daniil Medvedev lost to Rafael Nadal
- 2023 US Open F – Daniil Medvedev lost to Novak Djokovic
- 2024 Australian Open F – Daniil Medvedev lost to Jannik Sinner
As the sport continues to evolve, Medvedev has now shared his thoughts on how tennis has changed recently and named the player who ‘surprised’ him earlier this year.
Daniil Medvedev admits Learner Tien ‘really surprised’ him when they played at the Australian Open
Speaking to the Russian media outlet, Bolshe, Medvedev was asked for his thoughts on how tennis has changed over recent years.
“It’s actually hard to say,” he said.
“It seems to me that, mainly for some reason, I don’t know, but everyone hits very hard.
“Now there are many more of these attacking hard-hitting players and many fewer players who play on the counterattack, who have less strength.
“One of them is [Learner] Tien, that is, there are still different styles.
“I played him in Australia, and he really surprised me with the way he uses the court, uses the rhythm, uses the opponent’s strength. It was very interesting.”
Tien beat Medvedev in the second round of this year’s Australian Open, battling through in five sets to secure the biggest win of his young career.
Medvedev then named two players who have enjoyed success with the newer ‘hard-hitting’ style of tennis.
“[Jakub] Mensik, [Arthur] Fils, you play with them in training, and I understand that I can’t play like they do, I need to win with something else,” he said.
“That’s how I try to win.”
Medvedev has yet to play Mensik on the ATP Tour, but has taken on the Frenchman twice, coming out victorious on both occasions.
- 2025 Indian Wells QF – Daniil Medvedev beat Arthur Fils, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
- 2023 Vienna Open 1R – Daniil Medvedev beat Arthur Fils, 6-4, 6-2
Only time will tell how Medvedev will fare against Tien, Fils, and Mensik as their tennis careers progress.
Comparing Learner Tien, Arthur Fils, and Jakub Mensik’s career achievements
Many are tipping the three players Medvedev named to achieve great things over the next few years, but which of the trio has had the most success thus far?
20-year-old Fils is the most experienced and is the highest-ranked, although Mensik has won the biggest title.
Arthur Fils
- Age – 20
- Ranking – 14th
- Career titles – 3
- Biggest title – ATP 500 (2024 Hamburg, Tokyo)
- Best Grand Slam performance – 4R 2024 Wimbledon
- Top ten wins – 7
- Best win by ranking – 2025 Miami Open 4R v #2 Alexander Zverev
Jakub Mensik
- Age – 19
- Ranking – 19th
- Career titles – 1
- Biggest title – Masters 1000 (2025 Miami)
- Best Grand Slam performance – 3R 2023/2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open
- Top ten wins – 8
- Best win by ranking – 2025 Miami Open SF v #4 Taylor Fritz
Learner Tien
- Age – 19
- Ranking – 67th
- Career titles – 0
- Biggest title – N/A
- Best Grand Slam performance – 4R 2025 Australian Open
- Top ten wins – 2
- Best win by ranking – 2025 Mexican Open 2R v #2 Alexander Zverev
Czech teenager Mensik won the Miami Open title earlier this year, beating Djokovic 7-6, 7-6, in the final.
In doing so, Mensik became the lowest-ranked (54th) champion in tournament history, securing his maiden career title at the Masters 1000 level.
Fils is a two-time ATP 500 champion, enjoying success at the third-tier tournaments in 2024, winning in Hamburg and Tokyo.
Taking a step forward at the Masters 1000 events in 2025, Fils has reached the quarterfinals at three of the five tournaments, as he continues to showcase his potential on the world stage.
Tien in comparison, has yet to achieve the same success as Fils and Mensik, and has lost seven of his last eight ATP Tour main draw matches.
The American lost to Kei Nishikori in his opening match at the Geneva Open recently, ending his French Open preparations on a sour note.
All three players will now rest up ahead of Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday, May 25.
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