By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Friday, July 7, 2023
Daniil Medvedev definitely embraces the love/hate relationship tennis fans have with him around the world.
So far at Wimbledon however, the No. 3 seed Medvedev has enjoyed a warm reception from the crowds after not being able to compete last year due to the tournament’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players due to Russia’s invastion of Ukraine.
Medvedev is also enjoying a solid start at this year’s Wimbledon. He reached the third round after seeing off France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(5) in a match that resumed today after being suspended yesterday due to the local town curfew.
Medvedev’s moving 🔛
The No.3 seed defeats Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(5)#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/JK8Ew1ntwK
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2023
When a reporter afterwards said to Medvedev that he has a fabulous relationship with crowds, Medvedev replied with a smile, “Not everywhere. It’s entertaining for sure.”
It was only fitting to take a bow after that 42-shot rally, @DaniilMedwed 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/QSSB1XS6Au
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2023
The 27-year-old Russian has been known to delight and divide tennis fans in the last few years. Especially when a crowd turns against Medvedev, for whatever reason, he will turn against them, sometimes earning boos, and sometimes cheers.
Just recently, after Medvedev won the Rome Masters title, defeating Holger Rune in the final, the Russian told the Italian crowd afterwards, “Sometimes I make you angry. Sometimes you make me angry. Sometimes I make you happy. Sometimes you make me happy. I’m happy today. I hope you’re happy too.”
When asked after his match what tournament and crowd is his favorite, he cited the US Open. Which makes sense it’s where he won his first ever major title in 2021.
That love/hate affair actually started though after Medvedev won a contentious third round match against Feliciano Lopez in 2019. That happened when the Russian earned an unsportsmanlike like conduct code for snatching a towel away from a ball person. When Medvedev reacted by tossing his racquet to the court and arguing with the umpire, the rowdy New York crowd started booing him.
When Medvedev then famously gave a not so subtle finger to the crowd, they increased their booing. After he won the match, Medvedev sarcastically thanked the crowd for their lack of…
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