Medvedev Blasts ATP, Says He Has No Desire for Finals

Daniil Medvedev claims he has ‘no desire’ to play the ATP Finals after losing at the Paris Masters.

The former world No. 1 made the statement in his post-match interview following a 6-4, 6-4 second-round loss to Ignacio Buse on Wednesday.

The defeat ended a run of four consecutive tournaments in which Medvedev had reached at least the semifinals, winning two titles during that stretch.

But the result was not the only story from his afternoon in Paris.

Medvedev also had a heated exchange with the chair umpire and tournament supervisor during a changeover.

The incident began when the umpire, Adel Nour, issued Medvedev a warning for scraping his racket on the court surface.

Medvedev reacted immediately, questioning the decision in front of the cameras.

“Why are they giving me warning?” he asked, according to footage from the match.

He then directed his frustration at tournament supervisor Cédric Mourier.

“I can’t hit the ground? Every time it’s something new? How many times? Five times? What happens if it’s not five? Do you apologize after the match?”

Medvedev said, as reported by Tennisuptodate.com.

The umpire had counted five gestures toward the ground and two marks left on the court, according to the explanation given during the exchange.

Medvedev then shifted to his physical condition, telling Mourier that his legs hurt badly.

“If I retire, what do I get? My legs hurt really badly. I’m in a lot of pain, I can’t play. Do we call the physio? Physio!” he said, speaking in French.

When Mourier asked whether Medvedev intended to continue, the Russian made clear he was unhappy with the warning and wanted medical assistance.

“No! That’s a racket scrape and I get an unsportsmanlike warning for nothing? I don’t feel like playing, I’m calling the physio,” Medvedev said, according to the same source.

He added: “I just tore something in my leg. If the physio decides there’s nothing wrong, I’ll play. But I tore my adductor, and I’ve been playing for seven weeks.”

Medvedev did not retire.

He finished the match, losing in straight sets.

In his post-match interview with BB Tennis, Medvedev first criticized the court conditions in Paris.

“Personally, I was having a blast at the NTC yesterday. The courts there… even though people say they’re fast, they actually felt slow to me,” he said.

“I just arrived here today, and it’s ten times faster, which, again, raises some questions. Why is the court over there so much slower? It was really tough to get into a rhythm and play well.”

Then came the remark about the ATP Finals.

“To be honest, I don’t really have the desire to play anymore this season, but I’ll have to,” Medvedev said.

The ATP Finals are the season-ending championship, featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams.

The event is scheduled to begin November 10 in Turin, Italy.

Medvedev qualified for the field based on his results this season, including his recent run of strong form.

He won titles in Vienna and at an earlier event during his hot streak, pushing hard over the last two months to secure his spot.

His statement is notable because other players have been fighting to qualify.

Novak Djokovic, for example, has been trying to earn enough points to enter the field, according to reports.

Medvedev, by contrast, qualified without needing to chase points at the last minute — and now says he lacks motivation to compete.

The prize money for the ATP Finals is substantial.

An undefeated champion earns more than $4 million.

Even a single match win pays six figures.

Medvedev’s relationship with the Paris Masters has been difficult for years.

He has now lost in the second round in four of the last five editions of the tournament.