Daniil Medvedev, a three-time Melbourne finalist, struggled to contain his frustrations against the world No. 418. Samrej, making his Grand Slam debut, stunned the fifth seed with fearless shot-making, taking the second and third sets to leave the Rod Laver Arena crowd buzzing with anticipation of a historic upset.
Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoided one of the most stunning upsets in Australian Open history, clawing back from the brink against Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej in a tempestuous five-set thriller marred by emotional outbursts and a smashed net camera.
Tensions boiled over in the third set when an unlucky net cord went against Medvedev. The Russian furiously smashed his racquet against a net camera, obliterating the equipment and forcing a ball kid to sweep up the debris. The visual feed cut out, symbolizing Medvedev’s fractured composure as Samrej edged closer to the biggest win of his career.
Yet, the fairytale was not to be. The 22-year-old Thai wildcard, who had never played an ATP Tour-level match before, began to falter physically. Sensing his opponent’s struggles, Medvedev seized control, rediscovering the precision and consistency that has made him one of the world’s best. With the match hanging in the balance, Medvedev stormed through the final two sets to prevail 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
“I know that I play better when I play more tennis,” Medvedev quipped after the match. “Why play one hour 30 ? It’s minimum three hours to feel my shots better and have a good sensation.”
Daniil Medvedev could be fined after damaging his racquet and a net camera during an intense outburst during the match.
Medvedev’s emotions had been evident from the start, shouting at his coach and gesturing in frustration during the second set. But even as he teetered on the brink of defeat, his experience and fitness ultimately outlasted Samrej’s audacious challenge.
For Samrej, the loss was bittersweet. The Thai star’s fearless performance announced his arrival on the global stage, with Medvedev admitting post-match, “I watched his matches and didn’t see his level, so I was surprised. If he plays like this every match, life will be good.”
This grueling encounter marked Medvedev’s fourth consecutive five-set match in Melbourne, raising questions about his tendency to invite drama in the early rounds. Still, his resilience shines as he marches into the next stage of the tournament, aiming to shake off the rust and reclaim his best form.
