Medvedev Denies Making an Inappropriate Gesture Toward Paris Fans, Explains Nail Check Instead
Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev has denied that he directed an improper gesture at fans during a Paris tournament. The clarification circulated on social media as a statement attributed to journalist Quentin Monet, who shared Medvedev’s explanation on the platform. According to the report, Medvedev indicated that his actions were not intended to offend anyone in the crowd. He described the moment as looking at his nail rather than signaling to spectators, and he expressed respect for the people of Paris.
During the Masters event in Paris, Medvedev was defeated in the second round by Bulgarian Grigor Dmitrov. The match scoreline was 3:6, 7:6, 6:7 in favor of Dmitrov, and Medvedev subsequently exited the tournament after the loss. The incident involving the middle-finger gesture was noted by observers in the venue, but Medvedev has stated that there was no intention to direct a gesture toward the French audience.
Within the ATP rankings, Medvedev sits in third place with 7,200 points, positioning him as the highest-ranked Russian player. Dmitrov stands in the 17th position with 2,060 points. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic remains the leader with 11,045 points, while Carlos Alcaraz holds the second spot with 8,625 points. Another Russian, Andrey Rublev, occupies fifth on the list with 4,935 points.
In the wake of the match, a former world number two commented on the performance, noting that Medvedev had faced a formidable opponent in Dmitrov and that the Bulgarian player’s victory came through solid play. The remarks reflected a broader sentiment that the Masters tourney in Paris featured competitive rounds and surprise results, underscoring the depth of talent present in the field.