Daniil Medvedev has never been shy about putting on a show. He argues with umpires. He drops viral quotes like “money, girls, casino” during on-court interviews. He knows how to keep fans entertained when the cameras are rolling. But when those cameras start following him beyond the baseline, that’s where he draws the line. There’s a growing wave of sports documentaries grabbing global attention, with Carlos Alcaraz also joining in. But the Russian is not entertaining the idea of being a part of them. Find out why!

Sports docuseries are all the rage right now. Formula One’s Drive To Survive has been a massive hit. The golf world joined in with Full Swing. These shows brought new fans and more spotlight to their sports. Tennis tried to do the same with Break Point, created by the same producers at Box to Box. But the show didn’t quite hit the mark. Just over two years after production began at the 2022 Australian Open, Netflix confirmed that Break Point would end after two seasons.

After appearing in Break Point, Medvedev made it clear he won’t be doing anything like that again. The Russian star didn’t enjoy the experience, especially after the way he was portrayed in the second season. “The series is not real life,” said the 2021 US Open champion, who many felt received a “villain edit.” That version of himself didn’t sit well with him, and it seems to have changed how he views this kind of media exposure.

Meanwhile, his younger rival Carlos Alcaraz has embraced the spotlight. Carlos Alcaraz: My Way dropped on April 23rd, giving fans an inside look at the Spaniard’s 2024 season. Cameras followed him through all the highs and lows, offering a full picture of his life on and off the court.

But the 29-year-old believes that kind of openness just isn’t for him. Talking to First Serve he said, “I saw, for example, how Carlos’s one was done, you know, and, damn, it’s cameras all over you, all over the day. If I give it to the documentary I’m going to get nuts, like because, especially when you give your permission to them, they want more. They want to film your daughters, they want to film your wife, they want to ask them questions, they want to ask you more about your personal life.”

He also brought up something he heard from rapper Jack Harlow that struck a chord with him. “I remember I saw an interview of Jack Harlow, and he said that people around you, not your friends, like fans and everyone, they want to know everything about you. They want to know who you date, who, how, what you have for dinner, if you take your shower for 5 or 15 minutes. But you need to keep something for yourself, otherwise they take all your life away,” the Russian said.

Despite his firm stance, Medvedev did leave a tiny door open. “So that’s probably why I will never do a documentary, but let’s see, I never say never,” he added.

Quick Fact: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both have their own documentaries. Naomi Osaka released hers in 2023. Rafael Nadal is also set to release one chronicling his final year on tour. With tennis offering intense rivalries, parallel tours, and demanding schedules, it has all the makings for compelling storytelling.

But Medvedev isn’t biting. Instead, he has more pressing matters on his mind, like ending his title drought.

Daniil Medvedev is “confident” he can turn around his losing streak

Daniil Medvedev hasn’t lifted an ATP trophy since winning in Rome in 2023. The former World No. 1 hasn’t reached an ATP final since Indian Wells last year, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in a high-stakes showdown. His recent loss in the Madrid Masters quarterfinal to Casper Ruud only extended that dry spell. The defeat also cost him his spot in the ATP top 10 as he is just outside at 11th.

After his loss, however, the former Grand Slam champion remained positive of the results. “Casper is a great clay-courter. It was tough to challenge him as he controlled the pace. However, I’m happy with my Madrid campaign,” Medvedev said. “I must score notable wins to chase higher-ranking positions, but I know what it takes. It’s all about rebuilding confidence. If I can string together a couple of weeks playing at this level, I will win titles again.”

Next up for him is Rome, the site of his last title. Although clay isn’t his preferred surface, it could offer the perfect stage for a comeback. Medvedev may be done with documentaries, but he’s not done chasing titles. The next chapter of his career will be written on the court, not on camera. Can he find his form and win again where it all last clicked? What do you think?