Daniil Medvedev’s clay-court season has gotten off to a rough start, to put it mildly. The player’s aversion to the surface was quite evident in his first match at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters, as Matteo Berrettini appeared to expose his weaknesses.
After failing to win a single game in his first four attempts, Medvedev lost his cool and went ballistic, taking his frustration out on his racket.
Daniil Medvedev Crashes Out of the Monte-Carlo Masters After Raging Meltdown
Medvedev, who recently re-entered the world’s top 10, enjoyed a top-eight seed advantage at the first clay Masters 1000 event of the year. After a bye in the first round, the Russian drew Berrettini in the Round of 32.
The Italian entered the tournament as a wildcard, facing Roberto Bautista Agut in his opener. The match lasted just four games, as the Spanish opponent retired hurt in the middle of the match, trailing 0-4.
Berrettini picked up where he left off against Medvedev on Wednesday, racing to a 6-0 lead. He then broke the former World No. 1 for a 2-0 lead in the second set. At this point, Medvedev exploded, obliterating his racket. After a good seven smashes, he tossed this equipment in the bin.
The crowd was thoroughly invested in the player’s meltdown, reacting after every smash. The chair umpire promptly issued a code violation warning to Medvedev for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Medvedev dumps a forehand in the net to lose the first 8 games of the match to Berrettini, and he crashes out
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From thereon, Medvedev lost the next two service games and, consequently, the match, with a shocking score of 6-0, 6-0. Berrettini required just 49 minutes to dismiss his opponent. This was the Italian’s first win in their four-match rivalry.
Throughout the match, Medvedev failed to produce a single game point on his serve. He dished out five double faults and managed just three winners against 27 unforced errors. This is the first time he has crashed out with a double bagel. Meanwhile, for Berrettini, it is his first double-bagel victory. The Italian called it “one of the best performances of his life.”
Berrettini has yet to lose a game at the tournament after his first two matches against Medvedev and Bautista Agut. He would look to carry on the momentum in his next match against the winner of João Fonseca vs. Arthur Rinderknech.
Medvedev, meanwhile, would hope for a better result at his next tournament, the Madrid Open. It seemed that the Russian had found his footing after a sensational title run in Dubai and a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz. His early exits in Miami and Monte-Carlo, however, have suggested otherwise.
