Daniil Medvedev and Iga Swiatek both joined the Tennis Channel desk ahead of their opening-round matches in Cincinnati, and it made for great entertainment.
After all, the towering Russian always guarantees the laughs, whilst the newly-crowned Wimbledon champion has offered a far greater insight into her bubbly personality in recent years.
As such, they combined to great effect, united by their shared racket brand: Tecnifibre.
And whilst they did discuss this commonality briefly, it was what they said about one another’s games was of the most interest.
Daniil Medvedev in particular highlighted what he wishes he could steal from Iga Swiatek, aside from her remarkable penchant for winning.
Daniil Medvedev admits he’s envious of Iga Swiatek trait
Asked by the host what he wishes he could take from the Polish superstar’s game, Medvedev took a moment to think.
After all, with how comprehensive her play style is, which helped her soar to the Wimbledon title just last month, there were arguably so many options to choose from.
Team Technifibre joins us at the TC desk 🤜🤛
Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev spill on what they would take from each other’s game and their mixed doubles partnerships at the US Open. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/bXzEYr0cCx
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 9, 2025
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He began by joking: “Well, first I want to say the victories, but it’s kind of not in the game, right?”
Medvedev then went on to state his real answer, which he admitted they do share; Swiatek just does it better.
He claimed: “Maybe, I would say that’s what we have in common, but Iga does it definitely better than me, is as she’s saying, no, because why do we have sometimes this pretzel technique? Because the most important thing is to put it in. So sometimes the ball will skew off the court or something, so try whatever you can, and Iga is the best, like when she’s especially in the zone, she doesn’t miss and can hit also very strong.
“And so that’s what I would love to have like her, this capacity to never miss and just put it in the corners.”
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Swiatek’s reply drew a laugh from Medevedev, as she simply replied: “Oh, God. Okay. A lot of expectations.”
After her fifth Grand Slam title last month, Swiatek responded when asked if Wimbledon will be a turning point in her career. Her answer was rather blunt.
Daniil Medvedev really needs a good run in Cincinnati
2025 and beyond has been a struggle for Medvedev, who has routinely failed to put together a string of wins in any event.
His Grand Slam performances in particular have been really underwhelming, marking the sad decline of a once-reliable star.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
The 29-year-old has reached just a single final all year, and despite hard courts being his favoured surface, did not threaten earlier in the season in Melbourne or America.
Having carried that unconvincing form with him into Washington and Toronto, the Cincinnati Open is now his last chance to gather any kind of momentum ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year.
Medvedev has not got past the second round of any major this year.