SHANGHAI — In a moment that was equal parts bizarre, awkward, and strangely logical, world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev found himself in a peculiar predicament during his third-round match against Sebastian Korda at the 2023 Shanghai Masters. The Russian tennis star, known for his unorthodox on-court behavior and deadpan humor, had just won a grueling point and needed to change his sweat-soaked shirt, leading to an unusual request directed at a ball girl.
The Incident: A Request from the Court Jester
With the match poised at a critical juncture in the second set, Medvedev had just secured a hard-fought point. As he walked back to his chair during the changeover, he was visibly uncomfortable in his drenched white top. In a scene that quickly went viral across social media platforms, Medvedev turned to a young ball girl stationed near his bench and, with a straight face, asked for her assistance. The audio picked up by courtside microphones captured the surreal exchange, with Medvedev saying, "Can you help me take off my shirt? Because I cannot."
The ball girl, initially taken aback, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. She then gently pulled the back of his shirt as Medvedev maneuvered his arms out of the sleeves. Once free, he quickly grabbed a fresh shirt from his bag and put it on, all while the crowd in Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena watched in a mixture of laughter and bewilderment. The entire episode lasted only seconds, but it was enough to become an instant internet sensation.
Medvedev's Explanation: Pragmatism Over Protocol
Never one to shy away from explaining his eccentricities, Medvedev addressed the incident in his post-match press conference. He clarified that his request was born not from a sense of entitlement, but from a very specific physical constraint. He explained that he was struggling with a stiff neck and back, a common issue for tennis players, which made the simple act of removing a tight, sweat-soaked shirt incredibly difficult and potentially painful.
"My neck was blocked, my back was blocked," Medvedev told reporters. "Sometimes you cannot take off your shirt. I saw the ball girl, and I asked her if she could help me. I think she did a great job." He went on to praise the ball kid for her composure, acknowledging the unusual nature of the request but emphasizing the practical solution it provided in the moment.
A Pattern of Peculiarity: Medvedev's History of On-Court Antics
For those familiar with Medvedev's career, this moment was just another entry in a long ledger of strange and memorable incidents. The 2021 US Open champion has built a reputation as the court jester of the ATP Tour, a player whose brilliant tactical mind is often accompanied by behavior that defies conventional tennis decorum. This is not his first controversial interaction in Shanghai, either.
Fans were quick to recall other classic Medvedev moments, which include:
- Arguing with a courtside camera at the 2019 US Open, telling it to his friend to "have a story to tell."
- Mimicking the service action of his opponent, Novak Djokovic, during a match.
- Giving a sarcastic shout-out to a booing crowd in Miami, calling them the "best crowd" in an epic rant.
His history in Shanghai adds another layer to the story. During the 2019 tournament, Medvedev was famously disqualified from the doubles event after he snatched a towel from a ball kid and was subsequently given a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. In that context, his polite request for help in 2023, while still bizarre, showed a marked difference in demeanor.
The Broader Context: Player-Ball Crew Dynamics
The incident sparked a broader discussion online about the role of ball crews and the expectations placed upon them. While players routinely receive towels and drinks from ball kids, a request of this personal nature is virtually unheard of. Tennis etiquette has strict but unwritten rules, and physical contact between players and the ball crew typically falls outside those boundaries. However, Medvedev's justification—that it was a medical necessity—presents a unique gray area.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg commented on the situation, noting, "It was a genuinely strange moment, but it was also pure, unscripted Medvedev. He identified a problem—his back and a wet shirt—and went for the most direct solution, protocol be damned. In an era of highly polished athlete media training, his bizarre authenticity is part of his appeal."
The Aftermath: Victory and Viral Fame
Despite the mid-match distraction, Medvedev managed to regain his focus and secure a victory over Korda, winning 6-3, 7-6(7-4). He advanced to the round of 16, where he would eventually be defeated by the eventual champion, Hubert Hurkacz. The shirt-removal clip, however, outlasted the memory of the match result for many casual observers.
The ball girl involved became an unlikely minor celebrity overnight, with fans on social media praising her for handling the awkward situation with professionalism and poise. The ATP and tournament officials did not issue any comment or sanction regarding the incident, likely viewing it as an isolated, peculiar event rather than a breach of conduct, especially given Medvedev's physical explanation.
In the days that followed, the moment was memed extensively, with users photoshopping the ball girl into other famous historical scenes and creating mock "How to Remove a Shirt" tutorials. It served as a perfect reminder of how Medvedev, one of the game's most elite competitors, continually blurs the line between elite sportsman and unpredictable entertainer.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Bizarre Moment
While on the surface it was just another viral "weird Medvedev" clip, the Shanghai shirt incident encapsulates what makes the Russian such a compelling figure in modern tennis. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered problem-solving, where the logical solution overrode social convention. It was awkward, yes, but it was also harmless and, in its own way, humanizing.
It highlighted the unexpected challenges athletes face mid-competition and the immense pressure ball crews are under to adapt to any situation. Ultimately, the story is not about a star player making a strange demand, but about a pragmatic, if highly unorthodox, collaboration between a player in physical discomfort and a young official who helped him overcome it. As Medvedev himself might say, it was just another day at the office.