Daniil Medvedev Faces Defeat and Tantrum at Monte Carlo Masters

It was a rough day for Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday, leading to an unexpected outburst on the court.

In the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters, the seventh-seeded Russian player suffered a stunning 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini. The defeat pushed him to a breaking point during the second set, where he let his frustration show by slamming his racket.

After losing the second game with a forehand return that went into the net, Medvedev’s meltdown began. He threw his racket against the wall behind him and then took several steps before smashing it into the clay court, causing it to bend out of shape.

He hit the racket several more times, ultimately destroying it before calmly tossing it into a trash can near his bench.

His final stats were dismal—only 36 percent of his first serves were successful against Berrettini, along with five double faults and a mere 17 points won.

With the French Open approaching next month, it seems Medvedev has significant work ahead of him.

Ranked No. 10 in the world, he has not been without success, having won tournaments in Brisbane and Dubai earlier this year. But the road to another Grand Slam victory feels distant for him. He exited the Australian Open in the fourth round this year after a second-round exit last year, and he couldn’t progress beyond the first round in the 2025 French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open.

His last appearance in a Grand Slam final was at the 2024 Australian Open, where he was defeated by Jannik Sinner. Clay surfaces have generally not favored Medvedev; after all, he has only reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros once, while losing in the first round six times over his nine appearances there.