Daniil Medvedev will be hoping to have a better season next year than he did in 2025.
Medvedev only won one Grand Slam match in 2025, and he has now lost his last four matches at major tournaments.
However, there were some more positive signs shown towards the end of the season, including Medvedev winning his first title in over two years.
Some big predictions have already been made about Medvedev’s 2026 season, but he has admitted that he is hoping to avoid facing one player in particular next year.
Daniil Medvedev admits he is hoping to avoid playing Learner Tien in 2026
Like many players, Medvedev has previously been outspoken against the length of the current tennis calendar.
However, after enjoying a short off-season, Medvedev is already back on a tennis court for an exhibition event in St. Petersburg.
During his time at the exhibition event, Medvedev has spoken in an interview with Tennis Bolshoi, where he was asked various questions, which were both tennis and non-tennis related.
This includes being asked which player he is hoping to avoid competing against in 2026, to which Medvedev quickly responded by saying American Learner Tien.
“Tien,” answered Medvedev. “For some reason they keep bringing us together…I might get a little carried away in many matches, but with him I’m simply blocked at one point…It’s also hard for him too and that’s why I think he also doesn’t want to play with me.”
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Daniil Medvedev vs Learner Tien Head-to-Head
Medvedev had never played Tien before this year, but he has met the American teenager three times in the 2025 season.
Tien has been one of the breakthrough ATP stars this year, having climbed from outside the top 120 to the top 30.
He has shown his potential against Medvedev, beating him in two out of their three matches this year.
The first of those came at the Australian Open, where Tien beat Medvedev in five sets in a dramatic match that finished at 2:55am in Melbourne.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2025 | Australian Open (R2) | Tien beat Medvedev, 6-3 7-6(4) 6(8)-7 1-6 7-6(7) |
| 2025 | China Open (SF) | Tien beat Medvedev, 5-7 7-5 4-0 (Medvedev retired) |
| 2025 | Shanghai Masters (R16) | Medvedev beat Tien, 7-6(6) 6(1)-7 6-4 |
Their second meeting was also dramatic but for different reasons, with Medvedev retiring against Tien due to cramping after blowing a lead.
Medvedev did manage to get revenge against Tien in his next tournament at the Shanghai Masters, winning a closely-fought three set match.
It is unclear as to where they will next play another match, but it seems as though Medvedev is hoping that it is not anytime soon.
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