Medvedev Suffers Another Bagel Loss After Australian Open, Falls in Miami Third Round

Just a week after securing the runner-up position at Indian Wells, ninth seed Medvedev astonishingly fell to eighteenth seed Cerundolo in the Miami third round by 0-6, 6-4, 5-7, becoming one of the most surprising upset of this event. What was even more staggering was not just the loss itself, but the fact that the 2026 season's win leader once again exposed his fragile nerves in critical moments through another bagel defeat—this humiliation occurring merely two months after his similar disgrace at the Australian Open.

The match started with an inexplicable one-sided dominance. Medvedev's first-serve winning rate was only 40%, while his second-serve winning rate was 0%—meaning none of his second serves earned a point. He lost six consecutive games, surrendering the first set 0-6 in just 21 minutes. For a former world No. 1 renowned for his resilient defense and hardcourt mastery, such statistics represent an almost surreal crack in his career trajectory.

In the second set, the Russian finally regained his rhythm. Both players exchanged four breaks of serve, with the score alternating to 4-4. At the crucial moment, Medvedev achieved a decisive break in the ninth game, then held his serve to win the set 6-4, giving fans hope for a comeback. However, when the deciding set reached 5-5, Cerundolo executed a fatal break on Medvedev's must-hold service game, sealing the victory 7-5 and sending off this widely favored title contender.

Medvedev's start to the 2026 season had been dreamlike. He won the Brisbane Open at the beginning of the year, added another title in Dubai, reached the final at the Indian Wells Masters, and led the ATP season win count with 18 victories. After returning to the world top ten, he was regarded as one of the most dominant players on hard courts this year. Yet this defeat marked his first loss since re-entering the top ten—coming abruptly and glaringly.

Technical statistics revealed deeper abnormalities. Throughout the match, Medvedev's unforced errors far exceeded his average, and his ability to seize key points severely declined, especially with his service games completely collapsing in the first set, indicating a systemic failure of his technique. In contrast, Cerundolo's tactical execution was exceptionally clear: using baseline variations and defensive counterattacks to continuously disrupt Medvedev's rhythm. Even when troubled by a leg injury in the decisive final stages, the Argentine persevered and ultimately secured his first career victory over Medvedev—the two had never faced each before.

The shock of this loss lies not only in the result itself but also in its manner. At the 2026 Australian Open, Medvedev was bageled by young American player Lenachan; merely two months later, another bagel occurred on the hard courts of a Masters event. For a player whose core strength is hard courts, having beaten Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on such surfaces, repeated single-set collapses in major hardcourt tournaments cannot be explained by mere coincidence or fluctuation.

Psychological fragility is becoming his greatest obstacle to returning to the top. After a complete first-set collapse, he tenaciously clawed back one set, but at the critical juncture of the deciding set—especially in his must-hold service game—he again displayed signs of tension, hesitation, and declining tactical execution. This pattern of faltering at key moments mirrors his experience in the 2022 Australian Open final, where he led by two sets but was reversed by Nadal. The difference is that Medvedev is no longer a rising star but a mature 30-year-old player with a Grand Slam title and multiple Masters championships. Hence, these recurring collapses are even more perplexing.

Medvedev's exit is not an isolated incident. This Miami Masters seems cursed by upset: defending champion Mensik was eliminated after wasting two match points, seventh seed Aliassime, women's singles eighth seed Andreeva, and other high seeds fell early. The tournament structure was already riddled by the third round, paving the way for subsequent dark horse surges.

For Cerundolo, this victory is exceptionally significant. This marks his fourth career advancement to the Miami round of 16, with his live ranking rising to No. 19. Next, he will face Humbert. An originally overlooked Argentine, by thoroughly defeating a top seed, officially announces his entry onto a broader stage.

One defeat may not define Medvedev's 2026 season. After all, he still boasts an impressive start with 18 wins, two titles, and a Masters runner-up this season. However, consecutive bagel collapses in major hardcourt events cannot be explained as coincidence anymore. When the label "King of Hard Courts" begins to show cracks, when psychological defenses repeatedly crumble at crucial moments, Medvedev needs not just a tactical adjustment but possibly a reconstruction of his competitive philosophy.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei )