Daniil Medvedev's 2025 started with the same sensations as last season. The former world No.1 who welcomed his second baby before the start of the new season hoped to have finally overcome this crisis, but the first results did not prove him right.
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The current version of the Russian ace is a long way from the one that won the 2021 US Open and reached the top position in the ATP ranking, despite the fact that the ace from Moscow is trying every possible solution to recover his certainties.
The 2024 Australian Open finalist ended his collaboration with Gilles Simon a few weeks ago, stating that their visions were too distant and that it made no sense to move forward given the disappointing results of the last twelve months.
After struggling a lot in the first weeks of 2025, Daniil returned to play good tennis in the first two rounds at the Doha ATP 500 last week.
The former world No.1 beat his compatriot Karen Khachanov and Zizou Bergs, but retired abruptly during his quarterfinal match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
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Medvedev did not shake hands with his opponent and left the court very quickly, explaining later that he had food poisoning.
Medvedev feels better
The 2021 US Open champion is feeling better now and arrived in Dubai a few days early, hoping to finally lift a trophy after a long fast.
"Before the match against Felix in Doha, I was preparing with my athletic trainer and I realized that I had no energy. I had to sit up after a few minutes because I couldn't breathe, I felt a horrible feeling" - said the Russian during his pre-tournament press conference.
"At the end of the match, I lay down because I thought I had a fever and we realized it had been food poisoning.
I thought I would end up in the hospital, but the next day I felt a little better" - he concluded.
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The Russian will face German ace Struff in the first round, already defeated in Marseille a couple of weeks ago.
