Daniil Medvedev Stuns Crowd With Jaw-Dropping Trick Shot in Quarterfinal Thriller — Watch the Viral Highlight

Russian No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev opens his French Open 2025 campaign today on Court Simonne-Mathieu against Britain’s Cameron Norrie, with first ball struck at 09:00 GMT under cool Parisian skies. For the former world No. 1—still searching for a breakthrough fortnight on clay—this first-round clash is more than routine: it is a chance to reset a season that has stalled since January. Medvedev’s clay-court conundrum Although the 28-year-old stunned the field by lifting the Rome Masters in 2023, red dirt remains his least comfortable surface. In 2025 he owns just a 5-4 record on clay, suffering tight losses to specialists Casper Ruud and Lorenzo Musetti. Paris has historically been unforgiving: a single quarter-final (2021) sits alongside three opening-round exits. Yet faster Roland Garros courts and the cooler spring forecast could help the big-serving baseliner shorten points and mask his movement-related doubts. Head-to-head: Medvedev 2, Norrie 1 The pair’s rivalry tips towards Medvedev, but their only clay meeting saw Norrie triumph in straight sets at Barcelona 2022. The Brit, ranked 81 after an injury-hit year, thrives on grinding rallies—precisely the pattern Medvedev hopes to avoid. Expect the Russian to step inside the baseline on return and finish exchanges with flat backhand strikes. Surprise doubles entry signals tactical rethink In a bid to sharpen his net instincts and vary patterns, Medvedev has entered the Roland Garros doubles draw alongside Brazilian veteran Marcelo Demoliner—only the third time he has played Grand Slam doubles in his career. The added workload reflects a willingness to experiment with drop shots and serve-and-volley plays already glimpsed during the clay swing. Potential road to week two Should Medvedev clear the Norrie hurdle, his section could pit him against No. 20 seed Nicolas Jarry—another clay power-server—before a projected fourth-round meeting with world No. 3 Alexander Zverev. A victory today therefore sets the tone for a realistic quarter-final push, critical for protecting his current top-15 ranking. Key stats at a glance • 2025 win-loss record: 19-11 (5-4 on clay) • Career Grand Slam titles: 1 (US Open 2021) • Best French Open result: Quarter-final, 2021 • Aces per match this clay season: 9.3 • Break-point conversion vs top-50 on clay: 34 % How to watch and live-stream Television coverage is provided by Eurosport (Europe), Tennis Channel (US) and Max/Discovery+. Digital fans can follow real-time scores via the official Roland-Garros app, while betting stream partners include Bet365 and FanCode (select territories). Prediction If Medvedev serves north of 65 % first serves and keeps unforced errors under 30, his raw pace should overwhelm Norrie in four sets. Anything less, and the Brit’s counter-punching could turn the match into a marathon—a scenario that historically drains the Russian on clay. Quote of the day “I’m trying new things—drop shots, doubles, different string tensions—whatever it takes to enjoy clay a bit more,” Medvedev told Russian media on the eve of the tournament. “If I can have fun, the results will follow.” Bottom line With Novak Djokovic eyeing Grand Slam 25 and Carlos Alcaraz lurking in the opposite half, Daniil Medvedev’s storyline has flown under the radar. Today’s opener against Cameron Norrie is the litmus test for whether the Moscow native can convert experimentation into a deep French Open 2025 run—and perhaps re-insert himself into the conversation for the sport’s biggest prizes.