Daniil Medvedev‘s recent showdown at the Shanghai Masters was anything but ordinary. Although the Russian ATP star managed to get through into the next round, the process behind it was quite aggressive. During the high-stakes match, Medvedev was seen indulging in a heated conversation with the chair umpire. This interaction caused him to receive a warning for misconduct. As all the heat finally converted into a victorious day for the 28-year-old, he couldn’t help but blame the balls at Shanghai for this. The events then took to social media and therefore turned into a hilarious discussion in which the ATP star participated as well.

Daniil Medvedev’s run at the Shanghai Masters is stuffed with tense moments. The world no.5 fought hard to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory, but drama erupted midway during the second set when frustration got the better of him. Seemingly unhappy with the balls being used at the tournament, Medvedev conveyed his feelings on the court which eventually sparked a heated argument with the umpire. After the intense showdown, Medvedev explained his outburst, stating that the balls in Shanghai favor players who can generate power from slower, “dead” balls. “I don’t think anyone is changing. I think it basically favors people who can benefit power from dead balls,” he remarked. This comment was quick enough to grab the attention of fans, who turned it into a meme modeled after the famous quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

The meme playfully questioned what Medvedev loves most, with options like “Indian Wells hard court” and “Balls at the Shanghai Masters.” Medvedev didn’t lose his cool but indulged in the hilarity as he responded, “Definitely need to use the Lifeline option here! 😝🤣”

Medvedev was seen explaining the details of his take against the balls, as he named Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the two players who benefitted the most from the court conditions. “It’s Jannik and Carlos. It gives them an extra edge,” the Russian admitted, as he recognized their ability to generate explosive power. He then talked about his own struggles with the same skill by revealing that the age factor also adds up here. “I try to get this power, which I’ve never had since I was young. There were even tests on the muscle that measure power, explosiveness, and I don’t really have the explosiveness,” he added.

Despite these challenges, Medvedev clarified that he was not giving up. “I still play not bad. I’m fighting and I wanna go all the way,” he said. However, this incident wasn’t the only one where the Russian was seen complaining about the quality of balls being used at the Shanghai Masters.

“Not good enough for professional tennis” says Daniil Medvedev about the balls in Shanghai

Daniil Medvedev didn’t hold back his frustration with the Wilson balls used at the Shanghai Masters. After his second-round match against Thiago Seyboth Wild the 28-year-old called out the balls for its poor quality. Besides being vocal about the conditions at this year’s Asian tournaments, Medvedev took a firm stance during the match as he claimed that the balls wore out too quickly. “These balls are not good enough for professional tennis. This is one of the most important tournaments in the world, and the balls fall apart after five games. There is absolutely no pressure,” Medvedev said to the match supervisor as he highlighted the durability issue.

Medvedev’s complaint stood on the base of similar criticisms raised during the Beijing tournament, in which the same Wilson balls were used. The Russian argued that the lack of pressure in the balls negatively impacts his game, mainly when they lose their shape within just a few games. His dissatisfaction raised a broader conversation among players about ball quality in a high-stakes tournament like Shanghai, where the smallest details can create a major difference in performance.

Despite his frustrations, Medvedev’s performance on the court didn’t suffer too much. The world No. 5 played an aggressive match against Seyboth Wild as he secured a commendable straight-sets win, 7-5, 7-5. As he now looks forward to the greater rounds, it still remains to be seen if the balls still disturb him or the game goes smoothly.