Daniil Medvedev, looking to regain the form that propelled him to the top of the ATP rankings in 2022, faced an early exit at the Rome Open after falling to Lorenzo Musetti in the Round of 16. While the loss was significant, much of the post-match conversation centered around a contentious moment involving the Italian crowd.
Medvedev, down a set and serving at 5-3 in the second, was visibly frustrated as he gestured for silence amid a chorus of boos. The umpire intervened, asking the boisterous crowd to calm down, but the disruption delayed Medvedev’s serve by over 30 seconds.
After the match, Medvedev clarified that his frustration wasn’t directed at the crowd as a whole but at specific individuals in the front row. “Honestly, it was the opposite. I noticed it when I walked onto the court. No, the crowd supported me quite well today,” Medvedev told Russian outlet Bolshe. “Of course, like in every match—not even against the Italians—there were people in the front row who were insulting me, so at one point, I reacted to it”.
Despite the exchange, Medvedev emphasized that the overall atmosphere was not hostile. “In general, I think the crowd and the atmosphere were great. I’ve had much more hostile crowds that tried to make me lose my temper,” he continued. “Today’s crowd was fine, except for the people I’ve mentioned. But it’s thousands of people in the stadium and ten of them”.
Medvedev reflects on the rain-delayed match
The match itself was plagued by delays due to persistent rain, adding another layer of difficulty to an already challenging encounter. The contest was halted just as Musetti held match point, forcing both players to repeatedly adjust their preparations.
“They kept postponing the match—another 30 minutes, and another,” Medvedev explained. “It was raining, so I just kept doing physical exercises. I think Lorenzo [Musetti] was doing the same because at one point, I think we were supposed to return to the court, and then the hail started. So I just did the exercises, tried to be mentally prepared, because one point can decide the fate of the match”.
When play resumed, Medvedev was unable to turn the tide. “The score was close, but I couldn’t do it. I think it’s easier to play that match point when it’s your match point, and not when it’s against you,” he admitted. “I couldn’t allow myself to take risks, to play freely, because I wouldn’t forgive myself”.
“I had to let him play on match point,” he added. “But he has the match point. If he loses it, it will be deuce, so he can allow himself to hit it as hard as he wants to, to hit a winner, and that’s what he did. So yeah, that’s why I’m disappointed”.