World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in his first-round Australian Open match against Thailand's Kasidit Samrej, ranked 418th. During the third set, a frustrating 13-stroke rally ended with Samrej's shot clipping the net and landing out of Medvedev's reach. This triggered a furious outburst from the three-time Australian Open finalist, who proceeded to repeatedly smash his racket against the net, inadvertently destroying a courtside camera in the process.
Tournament staff quickly replaced the damaged camera and cleared the debris, while Medvedev received a code violation for racket abuse. Having lost the third set, Medvedev found himself trailing 2-1 against the underdog Samrej. However, he regained his composure and dominated the subsequent sets, winning 6-1, 6-2 to secure a place in the second round.
Reflecting on the match, Medvedev acknowledged his improved mental resilience, stating, "In the end of last year, this match, I probably would have lost it. New year, new energy." A three-time finalist at the Australian Open, Medvedev is aiming to finally claim the title in 2025. His main rival will likely be Novak Djokovic, the record holder with ten Australian Open championships.
