“Beat this guy”: Daniil Medvedev interrupts his Dubai winner's speech to shade Stefanos Tsitsipas
Nearly four months after the fact, Medvedev showed he still takes issue with a certain Greek player labeling his good friend Rublev a player with “few tools”.
WATCH: The Dubai champion had many good things to say about his childhood friend and took issue with a comment made about Rublev's game at last year's ATP Finals.
Daniil Medvedev clinched an impressive third ATP title in as many weeks at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday. But before could even lift the trophy, the Russian player had already sent social media into a frenzy with a not-so-veiled jab directed at rival Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Russian player had just completed a 6-2, 6-2 rout against good friend and compatriot Andrey Rublev. The ensuing trophy ceremony brought out all the feels—and all the barbs.
Before taking the chance to shout out his team and sponsors, Medvedev’s first order of business was setting the record straight about his tennis bestie:
“I remember not long ago, one player said that he has ‘just few weapons.’ And I was reading this and I was like, ‘How can you say this?’” Medvedev said.
This, of course, is a reference to a remark made by Tsitsipas at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals after Rublev defeated him in the group stage: “He managed to prevail with the few tools he has." After drawing a wave of criticism on social media, Tsitsipas later said that he regretted making the comment, calling it “very unfair towards [Rublev] and not correct.”
But Medvedev is apparently having none of it. In Dubai, nearly four months after the fact, Medvedev doubled down during the trophy ceremony with a not-so-subtle dig aimed at the Greek player.
“In my opinion, Andrey is one of the most skillful players on the tour. He just didn’t fully exploit his potential yet, but I’m sure he can win Grand Slams,” he continued.
“Hopefully he can beat this guy [Tsitsipas] who said it many, many times—and I wish this for sure.”
Medvedev has been racking up the wins of his own in recent weeks, with Saturday’s victory in Dubai being his 14th in a row. The 27-year-old, who will rise to world No. 6 next week, added the ATP 500-level trophy to his career haul of 18, which also includes back-to-back wins in Rotterdam and Doha.