For a player who once made chaos look calculated and frustration look functional, 2025 felt oddly quiet for Daniil Medvedev. Not the good kind of quiet that comes with dominance - but the unsettling kind that creeps in when wins dry up and questions grow louder.

It was a season that never truly caught fire. He won just one title this season and had a win-loss record of 41-23. Medvedev, a former US Open champion and perennial Grand Slam threat, managed just one match win at the majors all year. That lone victory came at the AO, against an opponent ranked outside the Top 400 - hardly the benchmark Medvedev has set for himself over the years. As a result of this inconsistency, he got dropped outside the Top 10 (currently 13th in that list). But according to American legend, Andy Roddick, the Russian will be back in the Top 10 next year.

“I think he’s in the top 10. When you said he won one match at a major. I’m going, man; he still finished 13, and he won one match at a major… One match at a major, 13; that might be the highest ranking vs. Slam output offset.” During the recent episode of his ‘Served’ podcast, Roddick further added, “And it’s not like the guy can’t play in Slams; he’s won one, and he’s been in the finals of three or four more. I think Meddy’s back in the top 10 next year. I feel very confident after hearing your Slam statistic.”

It’s a prediction rooted in history as much as hope. Daniil Medvedev isn’t a one-season wonder. He has beaten the best, thrived under pressure, and redefined what defensive tennis can look like on the modern Tour. More importantly, he’s shown - time and again - that adversity often sharpens him rather than breaks him.

So, as 2026 approaches, Medvedev stands at a familiar crossroads. The expectations are lower, the spotlight slightly dimmer, but the hunger feels real again. With a refreshed setup, renewed confidence, and the backing of an American legend who knows a thing or two about comebacks, Daniil Medvedev may just be setting the stage for his next act. 

But let me tell you, it’s not just Andy Roddick; even another tennis legend recently made a similar bold prediction about Medvedev’s 2026 campaign. What did he say?

Mansour Bahrami also backs Daniil Medvedev to enter the Top 10 in 2026

For most of 2025, Daniil Medvedev felt like a man chasing echoes of his own greatness. The wins that once came naturally arrived sparingly, the rankings slipped, and the questions only got louder. But just when doubts began to settle in, belief started flowing from some of the most respected voices in tennis - and the latest to join that chorus is Mansour Bahrami.

Speaking to Bolshe in a previous interview, he said, “Daniil Medvedev has been a lot better at the end of the year. He’s been number one in the world, he’s a great player, and he’s been there for the past 10 years. I think he’ll be back in the top 10 for sure, and I have no doubt about that.”

Daniil Medvedev has already mentioned that he has higher expectations in 2026. But belief alone won’t be enough in 2026. To truly reclaim his place among the elite, Medvedev knows the path runs straight through the sport’s current powerhouses - Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. And in a rare moment of blunt honesty, the former world number one opened up about exactly how challenging that task has become. 

Speaking in an interview with Bolshe, Medvedev didn’t sugarcoat the reality. He said, “I’ll be as honest as possible. There was a moment when I was third or fourth in the world, and I thought about it a lot (how to beat Sinner and Alcaraz). I mean, they had been beating me a lot. I had one great match against Sinner at Wimbledon. It wasn’t that far at the US Open, but a loss is still a loss. It’s generally difficult for me to play against Alcaraz due to his playing style. I really thought about it a lot during training and tried to come up with something with the old team, but it turned out that I didn’t even play them once last season.”

Daniil Medvedev’s record against Jannik Sinner is 7-8, while against Carlos Alcaraz, he trails by a bigger margin (2-6). Coming to his new formula of beating these two, he added, “I would say they need to be outplayed by the old Medvedev, with some of his new tricks.”

Other than these two, there is another name that has haunted Medvedev recently. And it’s none other than the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Learner Tien. The American has a 2-1 record against Medvedev. Guess what? 

Daniil Medvedev has openly admitted that he hopes to avoid competing against Tien in 2026. Do you think the Russian star can overcome all these hurdles and re-enter his name into not only the Top 10 but also the Top 5 in 2026?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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