Follow us on Google Discover It was another busy week on the ATP Tour, with Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime all emerging victorious.
Arguably stealing the spotlight was Medvedev, who ended his 882-day title drought by winning the Almaty Open.
Medvedev shared his delight after triumphing at the ATP 250 tournament, where he beat Corentin Moutet in the final.
The Russian second seed, who won 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, has now remarkably claimed 21 titles in 21 different cities.
And just before his fantastic run in Kazakhstan, he was the subject of a ‘hot take’ from his fellow professional Nick Kyrgios.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty ImagesNick Kyrgios predicts if Alexander Zverev or Daniil Medvedev can win a Grand Slam in 2026
Kyrgios coached Richard Gasquet at the UTS Hong Kong after withdrawing from the event, where he was tasked with providing three hot takes for the 2026 season.
And arguably the boldest call featured both Medvedev and Alexander Zverev and their Grand Slam chances next year.
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Kyrgios said: “Zverev or Medvedev is going to win a Grand Slam in 2026. I think that those two guys are going to be hungry.
“Obviously [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz are the juggernauts and the titans. But I think that Medvedev and Zverev are sick of them winning all the Grand Slams. So maybe one of those two.”
Medvedev is a six-time Grand Slam finalist, but claimed his only title at the 2021 US Open against Novak Djokovic.
His struggles at major level were evident this season, with the veteran suffering three successive first round exits after his second round loss at the Australian Open.
Zverev meanwhile is winless from all three of his Grand Slam finals, one of which arrived against Sinner at this year’s Australian Open.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesNick Kyrgios makes big predictions about Joao Fonseca and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Kyrgios featured two other, less experienced ATP players in his other two bold predictions for the new season.
One involved Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, with the Australian noting: “I think that Mpetshi Perricard will break the top 10.
“That’s one of my takes. I think that he’s got the best serve I’ve ever seen, so I’m expecting big things out of Perricard.”
Having once reached a career-high of 29th, 22-year-old Perricard is currently ranked 37th in the world, with two titles won.
And discussing the Frenchman’s fellow rising star Joao Fonseca, Kyrgios predicted: “I think that Joao Fonseca is going to make a deep run at a Grand Slam, like I’m talking quarterfinals or semifinals.”
Aged 19, the Brazilian world number 45 has won one ATP title, while he reached the third rounds of the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
They represent his best Grand Slam finishes, with the teenager reaching the second rounds of the Australian Open and the US Open in what were his debut appearances at all four tournaments.
Very fittingly, Perricard and Fonseca have been drawn to face one another in their opening match at this week’s Swiss Indoors Basel.