Recently, Kafelnikov questioned Medvedev\u2019s work ethic<\/a>, suggesting he doesn\u2019t train as hard as he used to.<\/p>\n Proving Kafelnikov wrong, or at least trying to\u2026 Medvedev reached the last four of the China Open<\/a>, defeating world number three Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n Reacting to the 29-year-old\u2019s quarterfinal win, Kafelnikov<\/a> had this to say about Medvedev\u2019s efforts in Beijing.<\/p>\n Yevgeny Kafelnikov thinks Daniil Medvedev may have become more \u2018psychologically stable\u2019 in Beijing<\/p>\n During the latest episode of \u2018Hardcourt\u2019, Kafelnikov shared his thoughts on Medvedev\u2019s run to the China Open semifinals.<\/p>\n \u201cI think in general we need to talk about the positive things now about [Daniil] Medvedev,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting accused again of speaking badly about Daniil. I\u2019m speaking purely objectively, I think.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that he\u2019s already won three matches in a row suggests that maybe his confidence is returning. Three matches in a row, I don\u2019t know the last time he won three matches in a row this season.\u201d<\/p>\n Medvedev last won three matches in a row at the Halle Open<\/a> in June, where he lost in the final to Alexander Bublik.<\/p>\n 1. 2025 Halle Open 1R \u2013 Daniil Medvedev defeated Daniel Altmaier2. 2025 Halle Open 2R \u2013 Daniil Medvedev defeated Quentin Halys3. 2025 Halle Open QF \u2013 Daniil Medvedev defeated Alex Michelsen4. 2025 Halle Open SF \u2013 Daniil Medvedev defeated Alexander Zverev<\/p>\n Kafelnikov then highlighted what impressed him the most about Medvedev\u2019s quarterfinal win over Zverev.<\/p>\n \u201cA big plus is that he didn\u2019t lose his serve, even though [Alexander]<\/a> Zverev had breakpoints,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n PlayerAcesDouble faults1st Serve %Win % on 1st ServeWin % on 2nd ServeBreak pointsDaniil Medvedev5567%86%75%3\/4Alexander Zverev0077%64%38%0\/4Stats from Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev<\/p>\n \u201cWhat could be said about the way Medvedev has been playing recently? When he had a chance to serve out the match, he lost the serve and then gave the match away.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can maybe say that he has become psychologically stable.\u201d<\/p>\n The episode was recorded before Medvedev\u2019s semifinal match with Learner Tien<\/a>, which explains why Kafelnikov said this.<\/p>\n \u201cI will say that if he beats him and reaches the final, we can say that he really could have a successful end to the season, which is what we are hoping for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Medvedev, he failed in his bid to reach the final, struggling with cramp during his three-set defeat to Tien.<\/p>\n Medvedev is now 4-2 since hiring Thomas Johansson as his coach last month.<\/p>\n Kafelnikov admitted last week he wasn\u2019t too sure how much of an impact the Swede would have on Medvedev, as he now reveals what he thought of Johansson when they played each other on tour.<\/p>\n Thomas Johansson was \u2018very unpleasant\u2019 to play against \u2013 Yevgeny Kafelnikov<\/p>\n Johansson and Kafelnikov played each other 14 times in total, with the former winning their head-to-head, 9-5.<\/p>\n MatchWinnerLoserScore2001 Moscow \u2013 QFYevgeny KafelnikovThomas Johansson6-3, 7-52001 Halle \u2013 SFThomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov6-3, 5-7, 6-22001 Davis Cup \u2013 QFThomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov6-4, 1-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-22001 Dubai \u2013 R16Thomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov7-6, 7-52000 Stockholm \u2013 FThomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov6-2, 6-4, 6-42000 Wimbledon \u2013 R64Thomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov6-1, 7-6, 6-41999 Canadian Open \u2013 FThomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov1-6, 6-3, 6-31999 London 1 \u2013 QFThomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov6-2, 7-61998 US Open \u2013 R16Thomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-61998 Halle \u2013 SFYevgeny KafelnikovThomas Johansson7-6, 6-7, 6-31998 Rome \u2013 R64Yevgeny KafelnikovThomas Johansson7-6, 6-21998 Rotterdam \u2013 R32Thomas JohanssonYevgeny Kafelnikov7-6, 6-21998 London 1 \u2013 R32Yevgeny KafelnikovThomas Johansson6-3, 6-21996 French Open \u2013 R64Yevgeny KafelnikovThomas Johansson6-2, 7-5, 6-3Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Thomas Johansson\u2019s head-to-head record<\/p>\n The Russian lost eight matches in a row against Johansson during the 1990s, as he now explains how Medvedev\u2019s new coach drove him crazy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a very unpleasant player for me,\u201d said Kafelnikov.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually had two of those, which caused me a lot of discomfort. [Thomas] Johansson and Dominik Hrbaty. They just drove me crazy, because no matter how hard I hit, the ball came back twice as hard.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only times I could do something against them was when, after serving, I went to the net and came up with something, but I didn\u2019t have enough physical strength to do that for three, four, five sets. That\u2019s an energy-sapping style of tennis, which I hadn\u2019t practiced.<\/p>\n \u201cBut every time I stayed on the baseline, I struggled; therefore, these two players took so many potential titles away from me during my career. It\u2019s impossible to even imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n Once a fierce rival of Johansson\u2019s, Kafelnikov will be hoping the 50-year-old can guide Medvedev to success when he returns to the court at the Shanghai Masters.<\/p>\n Who will Daniil Medvedev play in his opening match at the Shanghai Masters?<\/p>\n Seeded 16th in Shanghai, Medvedev has received a bye into round two, where he will play either Dalibor Svrcina or Yibing Wu.<\/p>\n Medvedev leads the head-to-head with both players and would set foot on court as a strong favorite to reach the third round.<\/p>\n Daniil Medvedev (2-1) Yibing WuDaniil Medvedev (1-0) Dalibor Svrcina<\/p>\n![\"Daniil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2237741210-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by PEDRO PARDO\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Daniil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2238296012-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by China Open Official 2025\/VCG via Getty Images<\/p>\n