Tennis Players’ Religion

Daniil Medvedev Religion

Daniil Medvedev isn’t publicly vocal about faith, but his family follows Russian Orthodox tradition. His daughter Alisa was baptized in a Russian Orthodox ceremony and he chose fellow Russian Andrey Rublev as her godfather.

Daniil Medvedev Religion

Quick Profile: Daniil Medvedev

Full NameDaniil Sergeyevich Medvedev
Date of Birth11 February 1996 (age 29)
NationalityRussian
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
ReligionRussian Orthodox Christianity (follows the Orthodox tradition)

What religion is Daniil Medvedev ?

Medvedev was born and raised in Russia, where the predominant faith is the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. He has not made a point of publicly declaring his personal religious beliefs in interviews, but several facts suggest he practices Orthodox Christianity. In April 2023 he baptized his daughter Alisa in a Russian Orthodox church in Monaco. He also arranged for his longtime friend Andrey Rublev whom he described as “very kind” and “very religious” to be the godfather, noting that Rublev’s faith made him an easy choice.

In a 2024 interview, Medvedev even discussed his faith in connection with fatherhood. He said that after becoming a parent he had grown “very religious” and found new perspective in life. He likened his beliefs to those of Novak Djokovic, observing that both of them had their children baptized and that being close to their faith made them better parents and athletes. Taken together, these facts indicate that Medvedev observes the Russian Orthodox Christian tradition common in his country.

Early Life

Daniil Medvedev was born on 11 February 1996 in Moscow to Sergey Medvedev and Olga Medvedeva. His father, Sergey, is a computer engineer who ran a building materials business, and his mother Olga has a background in medicine. Daniil has two older sisters, Julia and Elena, who are 12 and 8 years his senior. He grew up in a sports-loving family. At age six his mother saw a sign for group tennis lessons at their swimming pool, and with his father’s encouragement Daniil began training in tennis under coach Ekaterina Kryuchkova. He also took music lessons on harpsichord and guitar as a child.

For school, Medvedev attended a specialized physics and math program in Moscow. He was later admitted to the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) to study economics and commerce, but he left to concentrate on tennis. He then enrolled in the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sports, Youth and Tourism, where he earned a coaching diploma in sports. In his teenage years he moved with his family to Antibes, France, to train at a tennis academy.

Career Highlights

Medvedev at the 2021 US Open (winning the title). Medvedev’s breakthrough came in 2019 when he reached six consecutive tournament finals, including the US Open final. He captured his first Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. That victory made him only the second man (after Djokovic) to deny Djokovic a calendar-year Grand Slam. Medvedev has won 21 ATP Tour singles titles in total, including prestigious events like the 2020 ATP Finalsand six ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (on hard courts such as Cincinnati and Montreal).

In early 2022, after reaching the Australian Open final, Medvedev became world No. 1 in men’s singles. He was the first player outside the “Big Four” (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to reach No. 1 in nearly two decades. His game is noted for consistency on hard courts, a powerful return of serve, and an unorthodox style. Medvedev also helped Russia win the Davis Cup in 2021. By the end of 2022 he had added several more major final appearances (Australian Open 2022, Wimbledon 2023, Australian Open 2024, etc.). Overall, Medvedev’s career is highlighted by a US Open championship, a season-ending ATP Finals title, a top ranking, and multiple finals at all the other Grand Slams.

Personal Life

Medvedev married former junior player Daria Chernyshkova (now Daria Medvedeva) in Moscow in September 2018. The couple welcomes life on the tour together: Daria frequently travels with him during tournaments, and they often spend family time on the road. They live in Monte Carlo, Monaco, having moved there in 2019 to be based near the tennis tour. The Medvedevs have two daughters. Their first daughter, Alisa, was born in October 2022, and their second daughter, Vika, was born in January 2025.

Off the court, Medvedev is multilingual and has varied interests. He speaks fluent Russian (his native language), and also learned French and English while living abroad. He is a passionate fan of German soccer club FC Bayern Munich. Medvedev has a wide range of experiences: for example, he completed an international relations program at MGIMO and earned a sports coaching diploma. In childhood he took music lessons (notably on the harpsichord).

Endorsements and Earnings

Medvedev’s success on court has attracted high-profile sponsors. He is a brand ambassador for Lacoste (apparel and shoes) and Tecnifibre (tennis rackets). He also has deals with Swiss watchmaker Bovet 1822 for his timepieces and gaming peripheral maker HyperX. In his native Russia he has been sponsored by companies like Tinkoff Bank (he appeared in their ads) and was a BMW brand ambassador before BMW left the Russian market.

Medvedev’s career prize money exceeds $48 million. Combined with endorsements, he has been one of tennis’s big earners. For example, one report noted he was the seventh-highest-paid tennis player in 2021–22, with an estimated net worth around $20 million. His financial success reflects both his many titles and the lucrative sponsorships he has secured.

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