The great Russian nomad and his twenty two cities of silver
The humidity of a Queensland summer has a way of sticking to everything, but as Daniil Medvedev hoisted the Brisbane International trophy on Sunday evening, he looked entirely unburdened.
Under the lights of the Pat Rafter Arena, following a clinical 6-2, 7-6(1) victory over Brandon Nakashima, the former World No. 1 didn’t just celebrate a title. He celebrated the continuation of the most peculiar and poetic streak in modern tennis.
With his triumph in Brisbane, Medvedev has now captured 22 career ATP titles. Remarkably, those 22 trophies have been won in 22 different cities across the globe.
From the indoor halls of Paris to the desert heat of Los Cabos, and now the coastal breeze of Brisbane, Medvedev has become the sport’s ultimate nomad. A champion who conquers a territory and then, as if by some unwritten law of his own career, never plants his flag in the same soil twice.
Standing before the press after his win, the 29-year-old was fully aware of the statistical anomaly that follows him. “It’s a fun story: 22 titles, 22 different cities,” Medvedev remarked with that characteristic mixture of dry wit and analytical detachment.
For most elite players, a “home tournament” or a favorite hunting ground is the bedrock of their trophy cabinet. Rafael Nadal has his kingdom in Paris; Roger Federer had his lawn in Halle.
But Medvedev’s CV looks more like a high-end travel itinerary. To win 22 times without ever defending a title or repeating a victory in the same city is a feat that defies the laws of probability in a sport where surfaces and conditions usually dictate a player’s success.
Yet, as the 2026 season dawns, the “Nomad” is looking to evolve. While he relishes the novelty of his streak, he admitted that his resolution for the new year involves breaking the very pattern that has made him a statistical darling.
“I will try to put myself a goal to try to win a second title where I won it somewhere. Not sure it’s going to happen but I will try,” he said. “I do hope I win somewhere the second title till I finish my career in the same city.”
The timing of this Brisbane win is significant. Medvedev entered the week ranked outside the top 10 for the first time in nearly seven years — a byproduct of a “turbulent” 2025. However, the version of Medvedev that dismantled Nakashima looked far from a fading force.
Refreshed by a longer-than-usual preseason after missing the Turin finals, and backed by a restructured coaching team, he played with the suffocating baseline precision that once made him the most feared hard-court player on the planet.
“I know that when I’m playing good, there are not that many players that can beat me easily or at all,” Medvedev noted, a warning shot fired toward the rest of the tour.
“I for sure have been playing very good end of the season. I think I made six out of last seven tournaments quarters, a lot of them semis, two titles. So I’m happy with the way I was playing, and I know that when I’m playing good, there are not that many players that can beat me easily or at all.”
As the tennis world shifts its gaze toward Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, the “22 in 22” narrative takes on a new weight. Medvedev is a three-time finalist in Melbourne, yet the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup remains one of the few major hard-court prizes missing from his mantle.
If he were to win his second Grand Slam next fortnight, it would perfectly extend his streak to 23 titles in 23 cities. “If it continues in Melbourne, great. I never won in Melbourne, so could be 23,” he said with a grin.
For the fans in Melbourne, who have often had a complicated, “love-hate” relationship with the Russian, this year offers a different dynamic.
He arrives as an underdog in name only, a veteran with a “new team” and an old hunger. While he aims to eventually find a city that will host him as a two-time champion, the immediate goal is simple. Keep moving, keep winning, and keep adding new pins to the map.
