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Daniil Medvedev earned the first clay title of his career at the 2023 Italian Open, downing Holger Rune in the final on Sunday. The Russian needed just two sets to accomplish the feat, beating Rune 7-5, 7-5 to win his 20th ATP Tour title.
Medvedev, who has repeatedly talked about his dislike for clay throughout the years, lost only one set all tournament, beating the likes of Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas along the way. The former World No. 1's triumph came as a surprise to many, including himself and his team.
Tennis fans could not believe their eyes after Daniil Medvedev's run as well and soon took to social media to share their excitement. One fan hailed the World No. 3 as a "versatile" and "adaptable" all-surface player, adding that he now has a great chance to finish the year as the World No. 1.
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The Italian Open is the fifth trophy Medvedev has won this season, with previous titles coming in Rotterdam, Dubai, Qatar, and Miami. He had also reached the final at Indian Wells, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz.
"Versatile. Adaptable. All-Surface Player. A threat everywhere to everyone in all conditions. Only 1 set lost along the way. A real chance to finish 2023 as the Year-End World #1!" one fan wrote.
Another fan went as far as to imagine the "hilarious" possibility of the 27-year-old winning the upcoming French Open, saying:
"Daniil Medvedev winning Roland Garros would be f**king hilarious and I think I need it."
Here are a few more reactions from fans:
Daniil Medvedev set to rise to World No. 2 after Italian Open triumph
As a result of his triumph at the 2023 Italian Open, Daniil Medvedev will rise to World No. 2 when the rankings are refreshed on Monday. Novak Djokovic, the current No. 1, will surrender his spot to Carlos Alcaraz and will drop to No. 3 after failing to defend his title in Rome.
More importantly, this means Medvedev will be seeded second at the French Open, while Alcaraz and Djokovic will be in the same half of the draw and could meet in the semifinals. The Russian, on the other hand, will safely avoid both of the Roland Garros favorites until the final at least.
Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas, both of whom reached the semifinals of the Italian Open, will complete the top 5 seeds in Paris during this edition.
