Daniil Medvedev responds to Alexander Zverev's "unfair" comments: "Look at yourself in the mirror"

WATCH: Holger Rune defeats Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 Monte Carlo quarterfinals—and they both seem to poke fun at Zverev's "unfair" comments during a conversation at the net

Wasn’t it just a week or two ago that players like Jessica Pegula and Frances Tiafoe were calling for tennis to dial up the drama? The guys at this week’s Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters have brought it in spades, with plenty of trash talk to go around between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev in the wake of their contentious third-round clash.

It all stems from Medvedev’s decision to leave the court on Thursday after winning the seventh game of the third set for a bathroom break—a move that prompted Zverev to call him “one of the most unfair players in the world”. Zverev also accused his opponent of resorting to gamesmanship tactics “every time” the German takes a lead in their matches.

Medvedev—whose toilet break was actually approved by chair umpire Carlos Bernardes—didn’t mince words when asked to respond to the comments, speaking after his 6-3, 6-4 quarterfinal defeat to Holger Rune on Friday.

“[What] made him say this? Toilet? Well, I wanted to pee. What does he want me to do?” Medvedev said in signature deadpan fashion. “And let's take it step by step. So, 3-2 I have like five breakpoints or whatever. He manages to hold. Congrats.

“Then I make the game 40-Love for me. I go to the toilet, I lose next two games, he's serving for the match. And he's saying I'm going to the toilet to make him play worse?”

Medvedev eventually defeated Zverev 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7) to move into the Monte Carlo quarterfinals, earning a frosty no-look handshake at the net from the German. On Friday, Medvedev and Rune appeared to mock Zverev’s gesture and comments after the Dane’s 6-3, 6-4 victory.

“Sascha is living in his own world. I already had like five players in the locker room coming to me and saying, ‘Come on, Daniil, why are you so unfair?’” Medvedev told press with a grin.

“...When he says someone is not fair play, you're like, ‘Okay, great. Look at yourself in the mirror.’”

After his defeat in Monte Carlo, Medvedev also confirmed his withdrawal from the upcoming ATP 500 Barcelona Open as he opts for more rest before returning to action at the Mutua Madrid Open.