Last month was no cakewalk for Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, once the World No. 1 and winner of the 2021 US Open, saw his 2025 season crash out in dramatic fashion. He battled hard, stretching his final match into a grueling five-set fight. But it just wasn’t meant to be. After that, he headed into an ATP 250, where he lost in the quarterfinals, but now in Beijing? Medvedev is embracing a fresh chapter, a new city, a new perspective, and a new game.

Friday kicked off with Medvedev making his China Open debut against Cameron Norrie. He took care of business in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. That’s redemption for the Russian. Facing the top Brit in his debut at this tournament, Medvedev was asked, “You’ve said to us that in practice you produced top 5 level tennis at times. How much of that was in evidence today?”

It was all positivity from Daniil Medvedev, who replied, “Not completely, but I played not bad. I served pretty well except a couple of games. Same on the return. I had a lot of chances to break. I think I deserved to win in terms of the game plan and the stats. I’m happy to go through.”

The former World No.1 piled on the pressure, breaking Norrie five times in just 75 action-packed minutes. He ripped nine aces and punched his ticket to the last 16, a sweet bit of revenge after his surprise first-round defeat to Norrie at Roland Garros in June. The Russian dialed in on Norrie’s forehand and refused to ease up, putting on a masterclass to cruise through the rematch.

The Russian’s 2025 season so far has been characterized by a dramatic and unexpected slump, particularly in the Grand Slams, where he won just one match across all four majors and suffered three first-round exits, leading to his ranking falling outside the top 10. While he managed to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells and an ATP 500 final in Halle, the former World No. 1 has openly admitted to playing poorly in important moments.

Now, Medvedev didn’t sugarcoat his performance: “I can play much, much better than that. But the way back is step by step. Today was a small step forward.” It’s clear he’s hungry for more. This win is just one step on the road back. Daniil has made some key adjustments, and he’s intent on making them count.

Ahead of the Asian swing, Daniil Medvedev makes a surprising team change

Last month, Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed pure chaos: a wild US Open blowup capped Medvedev’s turbulent 2025, with smashed rackets and an electric crowd fueling the drama. That meltdown signaled it was time for a fresh start. Enter: new faces, new energy for the Russian.

Daniil Medvedev made a major move, cutting ties with his longtime crew. Trainer Eric Hernandez, by his side since 2014, and coach Gilles Cervara, his guide since 2017, are now out. Tennis reporter José Morgado shared the scoop on X: “Daniil Medvedev hired Rohan Goetzke and Thomas Johansson as a trial (for now). A new start for the former world #1.” Morgado doubled down: “My source is Medvedev’s agent himself. Cheers.” Medvedev is clearly ready to switch things up.

Both splits came with heartfelt goodbyes. Hernandez reflected, “What a journey! Many unforgettable moments on and off the court… I pushed you daily, helping you reach your peak. Wishing you success as a player and joy as a father.” Medvedev answered, “You made me stronger, able to run more than 20 hours in a tournament and still win. I’ll never forget our victories together.” Cervara’s chapter closed after eight standout years—20 titles, a World No. 1 crown, five Grand Slam finals, and the ATP Finals trophy, all locked in unforgettable memories.

Now, Daniil Medvedev heads into Beijing’s last 16, set for a rematch with Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He leads their rivalry 4-1, and the big question is: can he push deeper this time? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!