Daniil Medvedev is a Russian tennis player currently ranked no.2 in the world. He was the winner of the US Open in 2021, beating world no.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Furthermore, he was a finalist at this years Australian Open. He had also reached the finals at the 2019 US open. He is known for his unorthodox style of play coupled with exceptional court coverage and a huge serve. These strengths have helped him win 4 Masters 1000 titles as well as an ATP finals title in 2020. In this article, we shall be discover 10 unknown facts about Daniil Medvedev.
1) Young gun
Daniil dabbled in a lot of activities and sports in his childhood. In particular, swimming and guitar. Though his swimmers wanted him to become a swimmer, it did not work out. After trying chess and even painting, the Russian at the age of 9 realized his future lay in tennis.
2) The brainiac
Medvedev is one of the rare athletes who completed his education. He enrolled in a specialized school for physics and math. Daniil even got into the MSIIR but dropped out. He then joined the Russian State University of Physical Education where re got his diploma as a coach.
3) French bound
Medvedev’s family shifted to Antibes, France when he was 18. He joined the Elite Tennis Center in Cannes. This is where he met his coach, Gilles Cervara, an important figure in his tennis career. His parents have been living in France ever since.
4) Burning through the ranks
Daniil saw a breakthrough in his playing career in 2016. In the ATP rankings that year, he climbed 232 positions to be ranked 99.
5) The kissing disease
In 2017, after qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals, he had to be hospitalized. Medvedev had contracted Mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease”. This is so because it spreads via saliva.
6) Money maker
After winning many major tournaments, Daniil made it to the Forbes list of 30 under 30 in 2021. Medvedev has also extended his sponsorship with BMW till 2024. He has also renewed his deal with Lacoste till 2026. His many endorsements and prize money see him bring in around $11 million annually.
7) Love for all things fast
Daniil Medvedev has a fondness for sports cars and drives them like sportscars. This fondness resulted in his driving license being suspended for 6 months. He had been driving at speeds exceeding 160 kmph on the roads of France.
8) Married man
It may come as a shock as he is only 25, but Daniil has been married for over 3 years. He married his girlfriend, Daria Medvedeva in Moscow in September 2018. She is a Moscow State University graduate and a former juniors tennis player. Daria also works as his assistant.
9) Meaning behind his name
Daniil’s surname, Medvedev is a Russian family name originating from the word, “medwed”, which means “bear”. Many prominent Russian personalities share this name. One example is the former Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev.
10) Davis Cup winner
Medvedev led the Russian tennis team to the Davis Cup title in 2021. He had won all his matches in the group phase and the knockout phase, including the final.
There you have it, 10 unknown facts about Daniil Medvedev. For more such information and news about the world of tennis, stay tuned to The SportsLite.com
