Daniil Medvedev’s Epic Five-Set Thriller: Key Moments, Stats & What’s Next

Fans of Daniil Medvedev have plenty to talk about as the world No. 10 shifts from a storm-interrupted week in Washington to a blockbuster North-American hard-court swing that includes Thursday’s third-round clash with Alexei Popyrin at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto. DC Open form sets the tone Medvedev landed in Canada on the back of a tricky opener in Washington, where lightning halted his deciding set against Corentin Moutet before the Russian returned the next day to seal the win and reach the last 16. The stop-start conditions did little to dull his trademark baseline rhythm, and analytics from the ATP show Medvedev producing one of the tour’s most effective hard-court returns—winning 42 % of points behind second-serve replies this season. That shot will be pivotal against Popyrin’s 130 mph serve on Toronto’s quick DecoTurf. Why Toronto matters for US Open hopes Medvedev’s 2025 campaign has lacked a signature trophy, but the Russian historically peaks in August: he owns two finals and one title in Canada since 2019, plus the 2021 US Open crown that broke Novak Djokovic’s calendar-slam bid. A deep National Bank Open run would catapult him into the US Open power rankings and shore up confidence ahead of the ATP’s first-ever re-imagined mixed-doubles championship, where he will reunite with teen sensation Mirra Andreeva during Week 1 in New York. Tactical keys vs Popyrin • Block-return lanes: Medvedev’s deep court position buys reaction time, but expect occasional sneaky step-ins on Popyrin’s second delivery. • Backhand redirection: The Aussie prefers inside-out forehands; flattening backhands up the line can jam that pattern. • Long-rally endurance: Medvedev won 78 % of exchanges over nine shots in Washington, a worrying stat for Popyrin’s shorter-point style. Ranking stakes and draw outlook A quarter-final berth would push Medvedev back toward the top 8 in the Pepperstone ATP rankings, protecting him from early heavyweights in Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows. The Toronto draw opens up: Stefanos Tsitsipas exited early, leaving potential meetings with Alexander Zverev or Félix Auger-Aliassime—opponents Medvedev has beaten in five of their last six encounters. What’s next Match time is slated for the night session at Sobeys Stadium, where cooler conditions should aid Medvedev’s grinding baseline game. Win or lose, the 29-year-old will head west to Cincinnati before touching down in New York for a packed US Open fortnight that includes both singles glory quests and the headline-grabbing Andreeva partnership. With search interest in “Daniil Medvedev” spiking again, the coming weeks could mark the Russian’s return to hard-court dominance—and perhaps his next Grand Slam statement.