Daniil Medvedev snapped a 370-day wait for a Grand Slam victory by beating Dutchman Jesper de Jong in the first round of the Australian Open, ending a run of three consecutive first-round exits at majors in 2025. The 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-2) win in Melbourne extended his unbeaten start to the season to 6-0, following his title triumph at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

The former world number one said he has been making a conscious effort to stay more positive on court after a turbulent year marked by emotional outbursts and inconsistent form. Medvedev admitted his struggles last season were largely mental rather than physical, as tension crept into his game during matches, affecting his serve and groundstrokes.

Now ranked 11th and working with new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke after splitting with long-time mentor Gilles Cervara, Medvedev appears to have found renewed stability. The 2021 US Open champion, a three-time Australian Open runner-up, will next face France’s Quentin Halys as he looks to build momentum in Melbourne.

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