Daniil Medvedev had a bizarre exchange with his his wife as he struggled during his Italian Open quarterfinal against Martin Landaluce on Thursday. The Russian dug deep and eventually managed to claim a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over the young Spaniard to secure his place in the semifinals.
Daniil Medvedev’s Mid-Match Exchange With Wife During Italian Open Quarterfinal
Medvedev seemed to be up against it as he battled Landaluce for a spot in the semifinals of the Italian Open. The 30-year-old was trailing by a break in the deciding set, but wrestled back momentum to claim a dramatic victory.
As he struggled to gain a foothold in the third set, Medvedev had an exchange with his wife, during which she tried to motivate him in a unique way. This is how the exchange went:
Daria: “Come on, focus.”
Medvedev: “It’s not working.”
Daria: “Adjust your toss.”
Medvedev: “Why isn’t it working? I’m trying to toss it but keep missing it.”
Daria: “Toss it above yourself. Let’s take it point by point. Fight for every ball, C’mon. Keep fighting.”
A video of the exchange was shared by a fan on social media.
🐻’s best partner/supporter/cheerleader🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗🙏🙏🙏
IG: bolshe_tennis pic.twitter.com/S6G2AYv0HR
— Sanna (@sanna_tw) May 15, 2026
The words of encouragement from his wife seemed to work as Medvedev fought his way to victory. He will now face Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Italian Open. The 30-year-old is looking to win the Italian Open for the second time in his career, having previously triumphed in Rome in 2023.
Medvedev and his wife, Daria Medvedeva, first met in 2014. They got married four years later and have two children together. The tennis star considers his wife to be one of the most important members of his team. A former juniors tennis player herself, Daria often travels alongside her husband and cheers him on.
MORE: ‘We’re Not Crazy’ – Daniil Medvedev Makes Bold Jannik Sinner Claim While Revealing Rome SF Strategy
Meanwhile, Medvedev is enjoying a strong season on the ATP Tour and has already won two titles (Brisbane, Dubai). He also reached the final at the Indian Wells Masters, losing to Sinner in two tight sets.
Clay may not be his favorite surface, but Medvedev has managed to make the semifinals of the Italian Open, battling past Pablo Llamas Ruiz, Thiago Agustín Tirante, and Landaluce. This run to the final four will certainly give him confidence ahead of the French Open, where he will hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s first-round exit.
