Daniil Medvedev is going through a rough patch. At the 2025 Vienna Open, he lost to Corentin Moutet, which is his second defeat to the Frenchman in four ATP Tour meetings. But that was not all. He even clashed with chair umpire Fergus Murphy in frustration.
Just a week earlier, Medvedev had beaten Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to claim his 21st ATP title, his first since 2023. But now, the Russian star seems to be struggling to find his rhythm.
What Did Daniil Medvedev Say to the Chair Umpire During the 2025 Vienna Open 2R Match?
At the 2025 Vienna Open, Medvedev, seeded sixth, began his campaign by defeating Nuno Borges in the first round with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-2. However, in the second round, he faced Moutet and lost, with a score of 6-7(3), 4-6.
A key moment that grabbed attention was Medvedev’s confrontation with umpire Murphy during a changeover in the first set tiebreak when the score was tied at 6-6 (3-3). The former US Open champion confronted Murphy regarding a time violation he had received, questioning the reasoning behind the call.
“How was I supposed to go from here to there? I didn’t even ask for the towel. Maybe you can use a little bit of your IQ. I was on the net. Maybe you can use your brain sometimes. I know the system calls everything, but you could use your brain sometimes. It’s either you don’t try or you can’t. I don’t know which is the right option, but I am not gonna tell you,” Medvedev said.
This incident was not the first controversy involving chair umpire Murphy. During the 2025 Japan Open final, Carlos Alcaraz also had a tense exchange with Murphy regarding a time violation he was given.
Where Will Daniil Medvedev Compete Next?
Following the conclusion of his campaign at the Vienna Open, Medvedev will compete at the 2025 Paris Masters, which will take place from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, 2025. The matches will be held at the indoor hard courts of the La Défense Arena in Paris.
In addition to the former world No. 1, players like the defending champion Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud and Lorenzo Musetti will also compete in the ATP Masters 1000 hard-court tournament.
Last year, Medvedev was seeded fourth at the Paris Masters and began his campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. He faced Alexei Popyrin in his opening match and lost with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (4).
Medvedev’s best result at the ATP Masters 1000 hard court tournament came in 2020. He was seeded third at the tournament and began his campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. He overcame Kevin Anderson and 16th seed Alex de Minaur in the second and third rounds, respectively.
In the quarterfinals, the former US Open champion defeated sixth seed Diego Schwartzman and secured his place in the final by eliminating 10th seed Milos Raonic in the semifinals. In the championship match, Medvedev triumphed over fourth seed Alexander Zverev with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to win the 2020 Paris Masters.
In 2021, Medvedev was the defending champion, and he finished as the runner-up to Novak Djokovic.
