Daniil Medvedev will head to Monaco with renewed hope of maintaining his solid start to 2026.
He’s already done better than last year, with three wins at the Australian Open — two more than he managed across all four Grand Slams in 2025.
The Russian also reached the final of Indian Wells, showing signs that he might be returning to his best form at 30 years old.
We’ll soon see if he can carry that momentum into the clay-court season.
Daniil Medvedev comments on his game during the clay season
Before his return in Monte Carlo, Daniil Medvedev spoke candidly about how he feels playing on clay.
Although there are opinions that it’s his weakest surface, he believes there’s nothing new for him to learn about it at this stage of his career.
“I’ve learned to play better on clay in recent years. I understand the game better, so there’s nothing to say,” said Medvedev.
“So, I don’t think there’s anything anyone in the world can tell me anything about playing on clay where I’ll say, ‘Wow, how could I not have known that before?’ Now I’m going to be like Rafa [Nadal] at Roland Garros.
“Everyone’s just working, trying to find some tactical or technical solutions, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Even so, Medvedev has admitted there is one part of his 2026 season that he’s not satisfied with so far.
Medvedev’s record on clay
While Medvedev feels he’s learned all there is to know about clay, his numbers on the surface tell a different story.
It remains his weakest surface by some distance, even though he did pick up a Masters 1000 title in Rome.
His win percentage sits at 64%, which, while respectable, is four points lower than his grass record and six below his career average of 70%.
No surprise then that hard courts are where he excels most, holding a win rate of 75%.
The Rome title remains a standout achievement in an otherwise thin clay résumé. Outside of that run, he has only one other semi-final appearance at the Masters level or higher. Last year at Roland Garros, he bowed out in the opening round.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
