Petkovic explains Medvedev's difficulties: "He must have a physical problem that he doesn't want to talk about".

Daniil Medvedev didn't have his best season on the ATP Tour in 2024.

The Russian ended the year without winning a single title, despite finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells earlier in the year.

The world's 5th-ranked player will need to get back on track quickly in the coming weeks. The winner of the 2021 US Open must defend the points from his final in Melbourne last year.

Former German pro Andrea Petkovic now analyzes the latest tennis news. On the Rennae Stubbs podcast, the former world No. 9 tried to justify Medvedev's disappointing season.

"I think his problem is that tennis is a really physically demanding sport.

He used to get more free points on his serve, but that's not the case lately. He probably doesn't want to say it, but he must have a back or shoulder injury.

I think this because during the French Open, a journalist pointed out to him that he wasn't as good at getting free points on his serve.

Daniil replied that he was aware of this and that he was trying to work every day to improve it.

But he also said that something had forced him to train less often than before.

He probably never mentioned it again, and that was probably a mistake. That's why I think he must have a physical problem that he doesn't want to talk about, but which prevents him from being at his best when serving.

When you play a sport that demands a lot from your game, you inevitably need free points on your serve", Petkovic elaborated.