Following his first-round defeat at the French Open 2025 on May 27, Daniil Medvedev, ranked No. 11, expressed frustration with his performance and hinted at skipping future tournaments. After losing a five-set match to Cameron Norrie (7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5), Medvedev stated, “If I keep playing like this, I might as well stay home with my kids,” suggesting he could bypass events if his form doesn’t improve. This echoes his 2022 threat to skip Wimbledon and Roland Garros for Russian tournaments due to hostile crowds. His comments reflect ongoing struggles on clay and align with French Open themes of pressure, seen in Ons Jabeur’s scheduling rant and Carlos Alcaraz’s media pushback.
Context of Medvedev’s Frustration
Medvedev’s loss to Norrie, ranked 81st, saw him squander a 5-3 lead in the fifth set, with 69 unforced errors and visible agitation. Norrie noted Medvedev’s unusual behavior, saying, “He was freaking out, talking to his box.” Medvedev’s 2025 season has been disappointing, with no finals and a drop from the Top 10 after failing to defend points at Indian Wells and Miami. His clay-court struggles are well-documented, with six first-round Roland Garros exits, including a 2023 loss to Thiago Seyboth Wild. Post-match, he emphasized prioritizing hard courts, stating, “Roland Garros isn’t my surface. If I don’t feel I can compete, I’ll skip it.”
Medvedev also expressed disdain for mandatory press conferences, saying, “If it wasn’t obligatory, I wouldn’t come to the press conference today.” He remains optimistic about the season, noting, “I have 10 more tournaments this year or maybe 12, I need to try to play them well.” His threat to skip events may be tempered by ATP rules, as posts on X noted that Medvedev could cite injuries or meet criteria like 600 matches or age 30 (eligible in 2027) to skip Masters events.
French Open Parallels and Broader Context
Medvedev’s frustration mirrors other French Open 2025 narratives. Jabeur’s critique of sexist scheduling shares his push against structural constraints, while Alcaraz’s rebuttal of quitting rumors reflects Medvedev’s need to address speculation. Emma Raducanu’s coaching shift and Luke Littler’s darts burnout concerns parallel Medvedev’s grappling with career demands. Norrie’s upset, like de Minaur’s gritty win, highlights Roland Garros’ unpredictability. Speculation on X, like claims of a US Open retirement, lacks evidence but underscores fan concern.
Conclusion
Daniil Medvedev’s threat to skip tournaments after his French Open 2025 loss to Norrie stems from poor form and clay-court woes. His 2022 precedent of prioritizing Russian events and press conference gripes highlight ongoing tensions. With 10-12 tournaments left in 2025, Medvedev’s focus on hard courts may guide his schedule, echoing French Open pressures faced by Jabeur, Alcaraz, and others.
