Daniil Medvedev believes he is still a "disruptor" on the ATP tour. The Russian star, with his brilliant one-liners and many quotable quotes, continues to charm his way into the hearts of fans and pundits alike. On Monday (January 13, 2025)7xm, the former World No. 1 will try to win a few more fans when he takes on Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej in their first-round match of the Australian Open 2025. (Full Coverage | Tennis News)

Ahead of the match, Medvedev laid out his plans. Addressing the press at Melbourne Park on Friday, the Russian who now resides in Monte Carlo said: "I was less of a disruptor (in 2024) because Carlos [Alcaraz] and Jannik [Sinner] were beating me a lot of times... A lot of tournaments I was getting to the good stages but not able to beat them."

Seeded fifth at the season-opening Grand Slam, the 28-year-old was at the receiving end of Alcaraz and Sinner last year, getting knocked out three times by the duo, in the Australian Open final and the US Open quarter-final by the Italian, and in between, the Wimbledon semis by the Spaniard.

“I would like to become again,” Medvedev added, hinting at his maiden 2021 US Open win which denied Novak Djokovic a calendar Grand Slam. “I don’t even know this word, but let’s say disruptor because it means that I will be able to get to these later stages and win them.”

That, however, is just one part of the narrative in the build-up to his ninth Australian Open campaign. Before last year’s Melbourne heartbreak, Daniil Medvedev got himself tangled in the fierce Grand Slam race [read: Big 3] and ended up losing the back-to-back finals, to Novak Djokovic in 2021 and then to Rafael Nadal in 2022. Now, despite being drawn in the top-seed Jannik Sinner’s half, the neutral athlete will fancy his chances.

Samrej, meanwhile, is making his Grand Slam debut. The 23-year-old beat Japan’s Rio Nogushi in the Asia-Pacific Wild Card Play-off in China to earn a ticket to the Melbourne gala. He is the first Thai man to feature in a Grand Slam main draw in 13 years, following legendary Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke.

Match: Daniil Medvedev vs Kasidit Samrej, Men’s Singles, First Round

When: Monday, January 13

How to watch: In India, the Australian Open 2025 will be streamed on the SonyLIV app and website. On TV, the tournament will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network. Eurosport will show the tournament across Europe. ESPN and Tennis Channel will show the tournament in the United States.

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance7xm,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

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