Medvedev blasts ATP for slow balls following Dubai loss to Griekspoor

Daniil Medvedev called for a new rule involving ball changes following his loss to Tallon Griekspoor in the Dubai quarter-finals on Thursday.

Daniil Medvedev, Rotterdam, 2025 © Zuma / Psnewz

Ricky Dimon

February 28, 2025

Daniil Medvedev went crazy at chair umpire Adel Nour during his three-set loss to Tallon Griekspoor at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday.

Afterward, Medvedev directed his ire at the ATP.

The Russian, who said he talked to Nour following the match and smoothed things over, was upset with the slow, heavy nature of the balls that were being used. He spoke about during his press conference.

“I do think that (in) the last game we played it was ridiculous how slow the balls were,” Medvedev lamented. “I don’t understand how it’s not a five-seven ball change on the ATP Tour. I don’t get it.”

The world No 6 was later asked about his tactics of standing far behind the baseline to return Griekspoor’s serve. Griekspoor consistently hurt Medvedev by serve-and-volleying.

“I don’t think (stepping in) helps, because Tallon does it a lot against many other players who stay close to the baseline…. Again, the balls when fly through the air are slower, it [gives] an advantage to the guys who volley — because they have more time to react, to adapt to the shot that is going to them. When they have more time, that’s a big disadvantage (for the returners).

“But the ATP doesn’t seem to care.”

Medvedev now heads to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where in the past he has blasted the tournament for slow conditions — saying, “this is not a hard court.”