Daniil Medvedev, Wimbledon semifinalist in 2023 and 2024, falls in first round to Benjamin Bonzi

Daniil Medvedev's season to forget continues. Despite his final-round run two weeks ago at the grass-court tune-up in Halle, the ninth-ranked Russian fell in the first round of Wimbledon to 64th-ranked Benjamin Bonzi, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Medvedev's ranking will take a considerable hit, given his run to the semifinals at SW19 last summer. He was also a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2023.

"I felt him playing very well," said Medvedev. "I felt like I didn't play too bad. So yeah, I don't see much I could do better. I mean, it's grass, so I could serve better on the tiebreaks.

"But, I mean, surprised by his level. I know that he can play well. I mean, it's just after the match, so I need to see the video and be sure about what I say. I would be surprised if you find a match of him playing like this any other match this year. I'm surprised he did today. But it can happen. That's when sensations happen."

A former No. 1 and the 2021 US Open champion, Medvedev is just 23-14 on the season, including a 1-3 mark at Grand Slam tournaments. He is now on a three-match losing streak at the majors:

• Australian Open, second round: lost to 121st-ranked Learner Tien, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (7)
• Roland Garros, first round: lost to 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie, 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5
• Wimbledon, first round: lost to to 64th-ranked Benjamin Bonzi, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2

Asked about this, Medvedev said he "very worried if there would not be Halle tournament where I played well and I managed to be in the final, playing great level."

"I had a great week of preparation because I come in in confidence after Halle," Medvedev continued. "I literally won every practice set I played. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter for the match. The match is a new story."

Medvedev defeated Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in five sets last year before falling to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. This is Medvedev's first ever loss in the first round of Wimbledon.

Bonzi, 29, had only defeated one other Top 10 player in his career: No. 7 Casper Ruud, at the ATP 250 in Metz last November. The Frenchman would go on to win that tournament for his first and only career title.

Medvedev, also 29, has not won a tournament since the Rome Masters in 2023.

"For me it's a matter of confidence," said Medvedev. "Again, I come back to this Halle tournament. If it would not be there, I would be here and say, Look, something is definitely missing.

"But no, just a matter of couple of matches, win matches. I feel like this year I lost a lot of close calls. When I start winning them, I can grab up the rankings and everything."

For the moment, I'm not that worried. If I finish the year somewhere around 15 in the world, maybe I will be more worried. For the moment, I am not. Daniil Medvedev