MELBOURNE, Australia — Daniil Medvedev’s unique “Dead Fish” celebration at the conclusion of the 2021 U.S. Open final remains one of the most memorable and unconventional responses to winning a significant tennis title. His dramatic fall onto the blue court of Arthur Ashe Stadium, after defeating Novak Djokovic and thwarting his attempt for a calendar-year Grand Slam, referenced the FIFA soccer video game. Medvedev himself labeled the moment as “legendary.”
As he approaches the possibility of securing another major title, potentially starting with the Australian Open, Medvedev is set to compete in his first-round match on Tuesday against Kasidit Samrej, a 20-year-old wild-card entry from Thailand who is currently ranked outside the top 400.
The 28-year-old Russian has contemplated how he might celebrate another victory. “But I don’t have anything set up, like, ‘OK, if I do it, I’m going to do this,’” Medvedev remarked. He indicated that his future celebrations would likely depend on the circumstances of the tournament and the match itself. After becoming a father for the second time recently and entering his match without any prior games this season, he added, “What I can definitely say is: It’s not going to be something crazy. It’s not going to be as iconic as the ‘Dead Fish.’ It’s just going to be a fun move dedicated to my friends, family, or my team.”
It seems his next celebration may not be influenced by his passion for gaming, reflected in his recent inclusion as a playable character in TopSpin 2K25, where he joins legendary names such as Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf, alongside contemporary players like Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek.
Medvedev is returning to Melbourne Park a year after narrowly missing out on his second Grand Slam title, having won the first two sets in the final against Jannik Sinner before eventually losing in five sets. “For sure,” Sinner remarked, “he will lift some more Grand Slam trophies.” This loss marked Medvedev’s record at major finals to 1-5; he has reached the Australian Open championship match in three out of the last four years, facing defeats against Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Djokovic in 2021.
“He’s going to have many more chances,” stated Darren Cahill, a coach for Sinner, emphasizing Medvedev’s competitive nature and intelligence on the court. “He’s a helluva player, a helluva competitor. His tennis IQ is as good as anybody’s.”
Without question, Medvedev ranks among the elite of his generation. However, the fact that his opening match is scheduled for Day 3 — following appearances by stars like Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Gauff, and Swiatek on Monday — illustrates how he often stands a bit in the shadow of others with greater accolades.
Medvedev’s career finds itself bridging two eras of tennis greatness: the esteemed trio of Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer, who collectively hold 66 Grand Slam titles, and the emerging duo of Alcaraz and Sinner, who have already secured six major championships, including all four in the 2024 season and are still in their early 20s.
Despite this, Medvedev has managed to thwart their rising paths more than once at crucial tournaments. He has eliminated Sinner at Wimbledon in July, and both Sinner and Alcaraz at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 2021.
Claiming the No. 1 spot in 2022, Medvedev shared that his goal for 2025 is to enhance his game sufficiently to consistently contend with two players he referred to as “The Big Two.” “It’s a tough challenge. It’s not easy. And I need to find a way to be a better version of myself to be able to do it,” he outlined. “That’s going to be the big goal.”
