Daniil Medvedev claimed his first top-50 win in three months after coming out on top in his opening-round clash with Cam Norrie at the China Open.
Medvedev beat Norrie in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to book his place in the round of 16 at the ATP 500 event, where he will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The Russian is playing in just his second tournament with new coaches, Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, both of whom he appointed after parting ways with Gilles Cervara after the US Open.
Prior to his appearance in Hangzhou, Medvedev said Johansson and Goetzke were on a trial run until the end of the season, and so far, the new hires have started promisingly.
Daniil Medvedev reacts to first two tournaments with new coaches
In his press conference after beating Norrie, the former world number one said: “First of all, for sure, coming here, I don’t think about last year’s and the previous years’ results because I was in a different position.
“I was sometimes coming after, like the final of the US Open. Last year, I lost in the quarters, but lost to Jannik [Sinner]. I was kind of only losing to Jannik or Carlos [Alcaraz].”
Medvedev is making his third appearance at the China Open this year, having featured in Beijing in 2023 and 2024.
- 2023: Lost in the China Open final to Jannik Sinner, 6-7, 6-7
- 2024: Lost in the China Open semifinals to Carlos Alcaraz, 5-7, 3-6
“Now I’m in a different position. I need to step-by-step bring my game back. That’s when I can finally meet someone like Carlos or Jannik in the tournament.
“About Thomas and Rohan, look, it’s just a start. It’s tough to say for sure and exactly. Till the end of the season, we’re just trying. But for sure, Rohan cannot travel as much as Thomas.
“Thomas more on a day-to-day basis. Rohan is a bit more sometimes here and there, talking about what he thinks. So far, it’s been great, and it’s been a lot of fun to work with them.”
Daniil Medvedev says there’s ‘no clarity yet’ of how to improve
When asked if he knows what it will take to get back to the top, Medvedev said: “[There is] definitely no clarity yet.
“But I’m trying. I’m not that far to find it. It will take some time. It will take some dedication, which maybe I didn’t have enough.
“I mean, I always feel like I’m someone who has dedication, but maybe I could have had a dedication in another way, which I didn’t do this year. I had dedication, I always have. Maybe I didn’t put it in the right way.
Medvedev’s ATP ranking this year has tumbled to as low as 18th in the world, which he is trying to improve towards the end of the season.
| Month | ATP Ranking |
| January | 5th |
| February | 7th |
| March | 6th |
| April | 11th |
| May | 11th |
| June | 11th |
| July | 14th |
| August | 15th |
| September | 18th |
“Maybe I needed to turn right and put this dedication in,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do step by step now.
“Again, what makes me really confident that I can do it is I had this practice week in Monaco, where there is no tournament coming, no stress, et cetera.
“I was able to produce an exceptional level of tennis, like above the roof. So I have it in me. I just need to find a way to put it back on the tennis court – in tournaments, of course.”
Medvedev has yet to add to his title tally this season and has made just one final on tour this year, which came at the Halle Open.
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