Melbourne, Australia – Daniil Medvedev has commenced his 2026 Australian Open campaign with a decisive victory, signaling a potential turnaround following a challenging previous season. The Russian tennis star secured a straight-sets win (7-5, 6-2, 7-6) against Dutch competitor Jesper de Jong on Monday, marking his sixth consecutive victory this season after previously claiming the Brisbane International title.
The three-time Australian Open finalist, known for his volatile on-court behavior, has consciously adopted a more positive mental approach after experiencing first-round eliminations in all three Grand Slam tournaments during 2025. This pattern included early exits at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open – a streak he has now broken at Melbourne Park.
Medvedev’s previous season was marked by significant professional challenges, including a notable ranking drop from world number five to as low as 18th. The 2021 US Open champion experienced several public incidents, including destroying a net camera during his lone Grand Slam victory last season and an emotional outburst in New York when a photographer interrupted play.
Despite these struggles, the 29-year-old ended his 882-day title drought by winning the Almaty Open in October but missed qualification for the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin.
Reflecting on his transformed mindset, Medvedev stated: ‘I’m making a concerted effort to maintain positivity on the court that mirrors my outlook in life. Thus far, the approach is proving effective, though future challenges remain unpredictable.’
The Russian has implemented significant changes to his support team, parting ways with long-time coach Gilles Cervara after their eight-year collaboration. He has since enlisted former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson and experienced coach Rohan Goetzke, a partnership that appears to be yielding immediate results.
Medvedev will face France’s Quentin Halys in the next round as he continues his campaign for a second Grand Slam title. In other day-one action, Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev advanced comfortably against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, while British player Jacob Fearnley exited the tournament after a four-set battle with Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.