Medvedev’s Mission for 2026: Two Titles in one City

Daniil Medvedev is back in top form after winning two 250-level titles over the last three months, at Almaty and Brisbane, but the former world No.1 is far from satisfied. In fact, with each title he wins he seems to get a little more irked. Now with 22 titles in 22 different cities, Medvedev has finally admitted that he’s fed up.

The Russian stated his main goal for 2023, and it’s a slightly unorthodox one: he wants to win a second title at any of the venues where he has previously triumphed.

He was asked about his goals for the season by a reporter during his pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open. Some players are shy about naming their goals, but not Medvedev, not this year.

“I have one now,” the 29-year-old world No.12 said before entering into a lengthy preamble. “I usually say that my goal is to play good tennis, which is that’s true. That’s most important. When I play my best tennis, I can win titles, I can win Grand Slams, I can be in final of Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, and all this, but this comes with playing good. So first it comes from the practice court, et cetera, et cetera.”

Then Medvedev got to the point.

“But now my goal is to win a second title somewhere in the city where I already won,” he said. “It’s a clear goal. I’m saying it out loud. I’m not sure to achieve it, but I’m going to do my best to try to do it.”

Medvedev, who faces Jesper De Jong in first-round action in Melbourne, doesn’t want to make it sound like he’s already looking beyond the Australian Open, where he is a three-time finalist, but never a champion.

“Here we’re in Melbourne, so I hope to get to 23 before I get a second somewhere,” he said.

He comes in carrying some good form. Medvedev, who is now coached by Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, only dropped one set en route to the Brisbane title last week.

He says he is thrilled to have such a solid team after parting ways with his longtime coach Gilles Cervara during a difficult 2025 season.

“I was looking for someone who would understand my game and what I’m doing on the court. When we talked to them, straightaway I felt that they understand what I’m doing on the court,” he said of his coaching tandem,” he said.