Medvedev wins Brisbane title, openly states Melbourne fans favor him—dark horse for the Australian Open?

On Sunday afternoon, ATP star and three-time Australian Open finalist Daniel Medvedev secured the Brisbane International championship with a thrilling win, starting the new season perfectly.

In this match, Medvedev beat American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). With this trophy, Medvedev’s ATP career titles reached 22, notably all won in different cities, showcasing his adaptability and competitiveness on various courts. This statistic is somewhat remarkable.

After the victory, Medvedev couldn’t hide his joy and delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech on site. He first expressed gratitude to his team members:

“I want to thank my team: Thomas, Leandro, Celine, and all the staff. Thank you very much. It’s a great start to the new year.”

Shifting tone, he also joked with his team: “But you guys need to improve your card skills. I don’t know if you’re doing it on purpose, maybe to boost my confidence, but you really need to get better, especially Leandro.”

In a touching moment, Medvedev dedicated this honor to his family back home:

“I also want to dedicate this trophy to my family who couldn’t come to Australia. It’s a 23-hour flight from where we live, which is quite far, and we have young kids, so the long journey isn’t easy.” He specially mentioned his daughter, “My daughter’s birthday happens to be during this tournament here. It’s her first birthday, and I want to give this title to her first.”

Additionally, he thanked the event organizers: “Of course, many thanks to all the sponsors, organizers, and volunteers who made this tournament possible. Also, thanks to the weather here; it was a fantastic event.” This was Medvedev’s second time competing in Brisbane. Reflecting on the past, he said, “The first time I reached the final and said I would work hard to win the title next time I come back. I didn’t expect to do it seven or eight years later. Now holding this trophy, I’m extremely happy.”

Although Medvedev admitted the pressure of competing in Australia is significant, this title undoubtedly boosts his confidence for the upcoming Australian Open. As a three-time finalist, Medvedev is now ranked outside the top eight and is regarded by some as a “dark horse” in the tournament. When asked if this status would help him gain more fan support, he responded confidently.

“In the long run, I definitely qualify as a dark horse since I haven’t reached the late stages of a Grand Slam for some time and my ranking dropped out of the top ten. But in the first three or four rounds, I don’t think I’m really a dark horse.” Medvedev shifted tone with certainty, “However, having made three Australian Open finals, I feel like the Melbourne crowd really likes me. That might sound a bit bold, but I sincerely hope it’s true.”

Besides looking ahead to the Australian Open, Medvedev also discussed his mental changes. Fans familiar with him know the former world No.1 was once famous for his temper, often directing anger at referees and losing control on court, which cost him dearly. Beneath his fragile appearance lies a fiery, easily triggered spirit. But this Brisbane victory showed his calmness and maturity, revealing his growth.

“The most important thing is that I always stay true to myself. Getting angry or out of line is my genuine reaction, though sometimes I do need to apologize.” Medvedev admitted that losing his temper drains extra energy and distracts focus, so staying calm is a better approach. “I couldn’t do this before, but in Brisbane, I found my own rhythm.”

He also smiled, saying fans worldwide have different preferences—some like his fiery side, others prefer his calm demeanor. “As long as I play well and stay true to myself, it’s normal that some will love me and others won’t.”

Looking back at Medvedev’s Australian Open journey, he reached the final three times but fell short each time. In 2025, he suffered an upset in the second round against qualifier Leandro Riedi. Now with a more mature mindset, he has toned down his former sharp edges and aims to challenge the Australian Open trophy with greater composure. Compared to the previously volatile Medvedev, the current version clearly has better chances to go further in Melbourne.

2021 Australian Open

2022 Australian Open

2024 Australian Open

This sequence almost feels like a saga of being dominated first by the Big Three and then by the post-2000 generation.

With the Australian Open about to begin, whether this new Brisbane champion can maintain his hot form and fulfill his dream in Melbourne is undoubtedly one of the tournament’s key storylines.

[Look at me][Give myself a flower][Bow]

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