During a difficult second-round defeat to Martin Damm at the Winston-Salem Open, Daniil Medvedev joked that he should "start a career in pickleball".

After a frustrating run at the recent ATP Masters events in Canada and Cincinnati, Medvedev entered the Winston-Salem Open to get some more matches ahead of the upcoming US Open.

However, his opening match there did not go to plan as Damm bested him 7-5 6-3 in one hour and 22 minutes on Tuesday.

Medvedev forced the first break point of the match in the fifth game but failed to convert and had one of his own to defend before making it 4-4.

However, Damm struck at the last possible moment, getting the better of his opponent's serve in the 12th game to take the first set.

The win of his career

Martin Damm | #WSOpen pic.twitter.com/7u50wPMIv8

— Winston-Salem Open (@WSOpen) August 26, 2026

Medvedev again matched his opponent early on, but Damm reeled off the final three games, getting another break at a vital moment to book his place in the next round.

And Medvedev was heard muttering to himself during changeovers in the second set as he struggled to find his best form.

"It's so much better than tennis. Literally every sport on this planet, I think, is better. I prefer to play curling than tennis," Medvedev told the umpire, though microphones did not pick up the first sport he mentioned.

He then followed it up on the next changeover by saying: "Maybe I should start a career in pickleball. Not too late. With Jack Sock… in doubles."

Meanwhile, with victory over Medvedev, Damm has claimed both the maiden win of his career against an ATP top-10 opponent and against the top seed at an ATP-level event.