The World Number 3 chooses not to defend his championship in Rotterdam, sacrificing the 500 ranking points without participating.
Daniil Medvedev (Credits: The Sun)
The third-ranked player in the world is the latest prominent figure to withdraw from the upcoming tournament. The Russian was expected to be the top seed in the singles competition.
However, in what appears to be a carefully considered decision, the former top-ranked player has decided not to travel to Amsterdam. With the event scheduled to take place from February 12th to 19th, his withdrawal comes nearly a week in advance. This demonstrates the careful thought put into the decision.
Medvedev’s most recent appearance was at the tournament where he finished as the runner-up. This marked his third loss in the finals of a major tournament as he continues to wait for his first championship. He was defeated by the talented Italian player who secured his first Grand Slam singles title after an exhilarating final match.
Three finals, three losses. 💔 How much longer until Medvedev wins the Australian Open? 🤔🎾 pic.twitter.com/9uCfLdVGqP
The former champion’s withdrawal was confirmed by his agent, Olli van Lindonk. He revealed that the third-ranked player in the world does not feel prepared to compete once again.
Daniil Medvedev, following his grueling run in Melbourne, is withdrawing from the ATP 500 Rotterdam, where he is the reigning champion. “He is not ready to compete yet,” says his agent Olli van Lindonk.
Considering the nature of his defeat at Melbourne Park, where he won the first two sets but ultimately lost the finals, it seems appropriate that he desires more rest. However, despite being the defending champion, his decision to withdraw still suggests that the lack of sleep and the defeat in Australia continue to affect him emotionally.
No defeat can prevent Medvedev from making jokes and having fun. 😂💪 pic.twitter.com/oXsrOxSGAa
While the Russian number 1 has chosen to relinquish the 500 ranking points he earned in Rotterdam, he still has 750 points to defend in February.
Medvedev claimed three consecutive titles in February 2023, winning 14 matches in a row. After his victory in Rotterdam, he triumphed at the ATP-250 event in Doha by defeating his opponent in the finals. He followed that up by overpowering his rival in the finals of the ATP-500 tournament in Dubai.
Daniil Medvedev beats Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-2 in Dubai to secure his third consecutive title and 14th consecutive victory 😮👏 pic.twitter.com/BKer2TyD9v
His winning streak came to an end in the tournament when he lost in the finals to his opponent. The Spaniard claimed victory in straight sets, putting an end to Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak and denying him the Masters-1000 title.
Medvedev’s withdrawal from the Rotterdam Open means that Sinner can take his place as the third-ranked player in the world. The Italian finished as the runner-up in last year’s event in Rotterdam and is likely to be the top seed this year. With 750 more points to defend, fans can expect to see the Russian back in action in Doha.