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If there’s one moment that captures the essence of Daniil Medvedev, it came after his lopsided first-round victory over Jaume Munar at the Rolex Paris Masters.

After falling 6–1, 6–3, the Spaniard smiled in exasperation at the net and told him, “Playing like this…? Good luck!”

Medvedev, grinning wryly, replied: “One time per year it happens, sorry!”

That’s the spirit of the disruptors—players like former ATP world No. 1 Medvedev and former WTA Top 5 Jelena Ostapenko. Both are overflowing with talent, variety and personality, yet finding that perfect balance on court—sustaining brilliance for more than a week or two—can be elusive.

Is it the conditions? Their mentality? Or do they simply thrive when facing the right opponent?

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Watch this episode of Matchup Mindset: Karolina Muchova

That’s what inspired Matchup Mindset, a 15-episode series that digs into how players think, prepare, and find their edge. (Stream them all, here, on TennisChannel.com)

In this article, we explore two players who march to the beat of their own drums—and who’ve learned how to harness the chaos to capture major titles.

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Ostapenko owns a 4-1 record against Top 10 players in 2025; she’s 3-5 against players outside the Top 100 during the same period.

Jelena Ostapenko: “You can have all the stats in the world…”

“First I listen to what the coach is saying, and then I say what I think,” Ostapenko explains. “Then we come to a plan together for what I have to do.”

The 2017 Roland Garros champion owns one of the most fascinating head-to-heads on the WTA Tour: she’s 6-0 against longtime top player Iga Swiatek, including three wins in 2023 and 2025—both seasons in which Swiatek finished No. 1 or 2.

Recent highlights include:

2025 Doha: Defeated Swiatek 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals, then reached her first WTA 1000 final since 2018 Miami.
2025 Stuttgart: Beat world No. 2 Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, then toppled world No. 1 Sabalenka in the final to claim her lone title of the year.

“I like some stats, but I think when you’re playing the match you always have to adapt,” Ostapenko says. “You can have all the stats in the world—but then suddenly, the player is doing something different, or you are...

“I like to think also I can adapt in the match, think for myself, and figure out what to change or do next.”

👉 Stream the full episode of Matchup Mindset with Jelena Ostapenko here, on the Tennis Channel app.

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“I personally rely not too much on the stats, because every match is different,” Medvedev says. “And I do think, sometimes, that it can even make things worse!”

Daniil Medvedev: “Tennis is such a funny sport”

Medvedev takes a similar approach to Ostapenko. For him, numbers and history only go so far.

“Head-to-head is the least important factor,” he says. “If it’s 5-0 for you, it just means you like your opponent’s game and know what to do tactically. But if it’s the other way around, then you need to adjust something.”

A recent example: Medvedev lost his first two matches against teenager Learner Tien, both grueling baseline duels that left him physically drained. In Shanghai, however, he turned the tables—shortening points due to cramps and finally earning his first win over the rising American.

“Tennis is such a funny sport that on any given day, anything can happen,” Medvedev reflects. “Head-to-head matters, but it’s not the most important thing in the world.”

By embracing the unpredictability—and accepting that every match feels different—Medvedev turns that chaos into his competitive edge.

👉 Stream the full episode of Matchup Mindset with Daniil Medvedev here, on the Tennis Channel app.

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