22-Year-Old Martin Damm Shocks Medvedev in Winston-Salem Open Upset

American left-hander Martin Damm, 22, shook up the summer hard-court swing by toppling world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals of the Winston-Salem Open, the biggest win of his young career and a statement that the 6-foot-8 southpaw is ready for prime time. Rising Through the Ranks The former junior No. 3 has surged from outside the Top 250 to No. 129 this season thanks to a semifinal run in Montpellier, a maiden Australian Open main-draw appearance and tighter, more aggressive service games that now average 16 aces per match. Another ranking leap is guaranteed when the new ATP list is published on Monday; live calculations place him on the brink of the Top 100. Serve-Volley Revival Damm’s victory over Medvedev highlighted an old-school mix of booming first serves—clocked at 139 mph—and feather-light touch at the net, a combination rare in today’s baseline-dominated game. He won 78 percent of first-serve points and charged the net 46 times, converting on 35. Road to the US Open With the Winston-Salem Open serving as the final tune-up before New York, Damm now carries momentum and a potential wild-card storyline into Flushing Meadows, where he debuted in the main draw last year. His 6-4, 6-4 loss to world No. 15 Adrian Mannarino in Montpellier’s semifinals and a three-set tussle with Camilo Ugo Carabelli in his Indian Wells debut earlier this spring underscore a growing ability to push established tour players deep into matches. Background and Pedigree Born in Bradenton, Florida, to former Czech doubles star Martin Damm Sr., the younger Damm stands 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and tips the scales at 209 lb. Working with longtime coach Micah Klousia at IMG Academy, he has focused on refining his ball toss and leg drive to disguise serve patterns, while off-court video study has helped sharpen return tactics against top-50 opponents. What’s Next Damm will meet Hungarian shot-maker Fabian Marozsán in Friday’s Winston-Salem quarter-finals; a win would secure his first ATP Tour semifinal on American soil—and likely vault him into direct entry for the 2027 Australian Open. With confidence soaring and the U.S. Davis Cup captain eyeing fresh blood for next month’s tie in Prague, Martin Damm may soon trade the label of “prospect” for “problem” on the men’s tour.