Daniil Medvedev is back in Flushing Meadows, looking to find his form at the US Open. While the former champion spoke about his recent struggles and the unpredictable draw, his most interesting comments came when he discussed his three-year-old daughter, Alisa. Ahead of another tough Grand Slam campaign, Medvedev gave fans a fun glimpse into his family life and whether genetics played a role in his daughter’s pursuit of tennis.
Daniil Medvedev Jokes About Daughter ‘Inheriting’ His Temper Ahead of US Open
The 2021 US Open champion is known for his sarcastic comments and intense reactions on court. While Medvedev is going through a disappointing season, he found a lighter moment when talking about his daughter Alisa’s early attempts at tennis.
Asked about his thoughts on his children pursuing the sport, Medvedev said he was surprised to see that Alisa already seems to have his personality on court, even though he and his wife have never taught her to behave that way.
“She has my personality on the court,” Medvedev told the press. “I’m not going to go into details, but she does have my personality on the court. And that’s where, when I see her, I’m like, maybe it’s a bit of genetics somewhere there.”
The 30-year-old has had his share of emotional moments. At last year’s US Open, Medvedev had a meltdown during his first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi after a photographer walked onto the court.
Earlier this year in Monte-Carlo, he also smashed his racket several times after losing to Matteo Berrettini.
The former World No. 1 added that he would support his daughter if she genuinely enjoys tennis but joked that coaching her could be a challenge. “If she likes tennis, I would be completely up for it, but it’s going to be a very tough job for her coach and for her parents.”
Medvedev and his wife Daria, whom he married in 2018 after four years of dating, share two children. Their first daughter, Alisa, was born in 2022, while their second daughter, Victoria, nicknamed Vika, was born in 2025. His fellow Russian ATP player Andrey Rublev is Alisa’s godfather.
The Russian started the year well with a title run in Brisbane, becoming only the third active player to win 20 tour-level hard-court titles. He followed that with an ATP 500 title in Dubai, then reached the final at Indian Wells and the semifinals in Rome.
However, his season has also included several early exits, including a first-round loss at Roland-Garros and a third-round defeat at Wimbledon. Most recently, he lost in the opening round of Winston-Salem to Martin Damm and even jokingly questioned his future in tennis, saying, “Maybe I should start a career in pickleball.”
At the US Open, where he won his sole Grand Slam and finished runner-up twice, in 2019 and 2023, Medvedev will face France’s Hugo Gaston in the first round.
