Doha, Qatar – The rivalry between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev, once a defining force on the ATP Tour, continues to evolve, though perhaps more accurately, to fade. Tsitsipas defeated Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday at the Qatar Open, a result that underscored a shift in the competitive landscape of men’s tennis and signaled a potential turning of the tide for both players.
The match, played before a sparse crowd, represented a third phase for the two competitors. Initially a fiery clash between rising stars, it matured into a more respectful duel between top-ranked players. Now, it feels altogether less consequential, a reflection of both players’ struggles to remain at the pinnacle of the sport. Both endured disappointing 2025 seasons, confirming a growing distance from the biggest prizes in tennis.
Medvedev, a former world No. 1 and 2021 U.S. Open champion, and Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist (2021 French Open, 2023 Australian Open – both losses to Novak Djokovic), are now facing a sport that appears to be passing them by. The longevity of Djokovic and the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have demonstrably lowered their ceilings.
The 2025 season was particularly difficult for both. Medvedev’s ranking slipped from No. 5 to No. 18, despite a late-season surge. Physical issues, including shoulder and hernia problems, impacted his serve, and he appeared to lose control of his typically composed demeanor. The year culminated in a split with his long-time coach, Gilles Cervara, after a first-round exit at the U.S. Open, where his conduct earned him a $42,500 fine. He has since voiced frustration with the quality of tennis balls.
Tsitsipas’s year was equally turbulent. His ranking plummeted from No. 11 to No. 36 as he desperately sought to recapture his earlier form. A series of changes – switching rackets, hiring and then dismissing Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanišević, and briefly reinstating his father, Apostolos, as coach – proved ineffective. A back injury, exacerbated by the racket change, hampered him throughout the year.
Wednesday’s match offered a glimpse of Tsitsipas’s potential resurgence. He delivered what was described as his best win by ranking since mid-2024. Medvedev, by contrast, appeared flat, committing double faults at crucial moments and displaying a lack of the conviction that once defined his play. However, even in defeat, Medvedev’s frustration felt muted, lacking the intensity that characterized their earlier encounters.
The rivalry’s origins were marked by genuine animosity. Their first meeting at the 2018 Miami Open was punctuated by a heated exchange after Tsitsipas took a lengthy bathroom break during the deciding set and failed to apologize for a net cord. Tsitsipas reportedly muttered “bull—- Russian,” prompting a sharp retort from Medvedev: “You better shut your f— up, OK?” The incident continued after the match, with Medvedev referencing Tsitsipas blocking him on Instagram and celebrating subsequent victories with pointed gestures.
The tension continued in the following years, fueled by contrasting playing styles and personalities. Tsitsipas once described Medvedev’s game as “boring,” a comment he later regretted. Medvedev responded by stating he had “stopped taking Tsitsipas seriously.”
Their encounters gradually became more respectful, culminating in a period of relative camaraderie, exemplified by their pairing as teammates at the 2024 Laver Cup. However, Wednesday’s match lacked the intensity of their earlier clashes, suggesting a further cooling of the rivalry.
Tsitsipas will now face No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals, with a potential semi-final against world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz looming. While a deep run in Doha would be a positive step for Tsitsipas, the emergence of Alcaraz and Sinner has fundamentally altered the competitive landscape, rendering rivalries like the one with Medvedev less central to the sport’s narrative. The win over Medvedev, while significant, served to emphasize how far removed both players are from consistently challenging for the biggest titles.
The Medvedev-Tsitsipas feud may have reached a détente, but its diminished significance reflects a broader trend in men’s tennis: a shift in power towards a new generation, leaving the established stars to grapple with their own fading relevance.
