Daniil Medvedev reaches major ATP milestone with win over Zizou Bergs in Qatar

Follow us on Google Discover

Daniil Medvedev is in need of a strong performance in Doha having struggled for form in recent weeks.

The former world number one hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to his 2025 ATP Tour campaign, suffering early exits in several tournaments.

Medvedev lost to Learner Tien in Melbourne, falling in the second round, his worst performance at the Australian Open since 2018.

Looking to bounce back in Rotterdam, Medvedev lost to Mattia Bellucci in the second round, an Italian qualifier who was ranked outside of the world’s top 90.

The 29-year-old fell to another shock defeat in Marseille, where he was the number one seed, as Hamad Medjedovic beat Medvedev in straight sets.

Returning to a tournament he won in 2023, Medvedev searched for some big wins in Doha to kickstart his campaign properly.

Medvedev beat Karen Khachanov in the first round, having trailed by a set to love, as he battled back against his countryman to advance to the last 16.

Booking his place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open, the Russian star reached a mightily impressive ATP milestone.

Daniil Medvedev becomes youngest active player to reach 300 career wins on hard courts

On a blockbuster day three in Doha, Medvedev took down Belgian star Zizou Bergs in straight sets to secure his spot in the last eight.

Dropping just three games, the world number six produced arguably his finest performance of the year so far, winning 6-2, 6-1.

His first and second serve were firing on all cylinders throughout as he breezed past Bergs without facing a break point.

Medvedev’s win over Bergs was his 300th on hard courts, a number that can only be bettered by six active players on tour.

He is now the only player under the age of 30 to have reached the milestone, as the hard-court specialist continues to impress despite his recent dip in form.

While Novak Djokovic’s record of 716 wins admittedly looks like a steep mountain to climb, Medvedev would likely back himself to rise a few places on the list before the end of the year.

A win in his quarter-final match with Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday would see him jump ahead of Japanese star Kei Nishikori, who also sits on 300 wins.

Daniil Medvedev’s greatest hard court victories

Of his 300 wins on the surface, some stand out above the rest, as Medvedev ascended to the top of the tennis world thanks to his performances on hard.

2020 ATP Finals (F) – Beat Dominic Thiem, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1

Having failed to win a match on his ATP Finals debut one year earlier, Medvedev was in fine form at the O2 Arena in 2020.

Medvedev dominated in London, taking down Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Diego Schwartzman in the group, before knocking out Rafael Nadal to advance to the final.

It was there that he took on Austria’s Dominic Thiem, who had won his first Major title at the US Open in September.

After dropping the first set, Medvedev won the second in a tiebreaker before coming through in three to win the ATP Finals for the first time.

2021 US Open (F) – Beat Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

At the 2021 US Open, Djokovic was searching for the elusive Calendar Grand Slam, having picked up titles in Melbourne, Paris, and London earlier in the year.

Entering the final, the Serb had won 27 of the 28 matches required to do so, as the Russian star stood between him and a place in the history books.

Medvedev had lost in the Australian Open final to Djokovic earlier in the year but wasn’t prepared to let his opportunity slip, as he produced a world-class display on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Crushing Djokovic’s Calendar Grand Slam dreams, Medvedev won his first Major title with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

2023 Miami Open (F) – Beat Jannik Sinner, 7-5, 6-3

For a man with his hard-court talents, Medvedev had surprisingly struggled at the ‘Sunshine Double’ Masters 1000 events before 2023.

That changed quickly, however, as the former world number one reached the final at Indian Wells before returning to the showpiece match in Miami.

A young and improving Jannik Sinner awaited him, although the Italian was no match for Medvedev in Florida as he stormed to a fifth Masters title.

The result was his sixth straight win over Sinner, as he enjoyed success over the now-three-time Major champion during his younger years.

It remains to be seen whether Medvedev can add some more famous hard-court wins to his resume in 2025, but he’ll certainly hope to carry on his strong Qatar Open form when he takes on Auger-Aliassime for a place in the semis.