Tennis Star Daniil Medvedev Pleads with United Airlines to Find His Missing Bags Before Miami Open

The World No. 10 player took to social media to ask for help retrieving his luggage ahead of the tournament.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:06pm

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Tennis star Daniil Medvedev made a public plea to United Airlines on social media after his bags went missing on a flight from Palm Springs, California to Florida ahead of the Miami Open tournament. Medvedev said he "kind of need[s] them to play" in the upcoming event and asked the airline for help in locating the missing luggage.

Why it matters

As one of the top-ranked tennis players in the world, Medvedev's ability to compete at the Miami Open could be significantly impacted if his essential equipment and attire do not arrive in time. This incident highlights the challenges even elite athletes can face with lost or delayed baggage when traveling for major sporting events.

The details

Medvedev flew from Palm Springs to Florida on Tuesday but said none of his bags arrived with him. He took to social media to ask United Airlines for assistance, tweeting "Hi @united...need a little help. Flew from PSP to Florida yesterday and none of my bags arrived. Kind of need them to play in the @MiamiOpen....can you help?" United responded with a generic customer service message, which Medvedev found unsatisfactory, replying "The amount of AI help has been overwhelming" with facepalm and shrugging emojis.

  • Medvedev flew from Palm Springs to Florida on Tuesday, March 16, 2026.
  • Medvedev made his public plea to United Airlines on social media on Tuesday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

A professional tennis player currently ranked World No. 10 by the ATP.

United Airlines

A major American airline that Medvedev flew with from Palm Springs to Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Hi @united...need a little help. Flew from PSP to Florida yesterday and none of my bags arrived. Kind of need them to play in the @MiamiOpen....can you help?”

— Daniil Medvedev, Tennis Player

“The amount of AI help has been overwhelming”

— Daniil Medvedev, Tennis Player

What’s next

Medvedev will need to continue working with United Airlines to locate and retrieve his missing bags before the start of the Miami Open tournament.

The takeaway

Even elite athletes like Daniil Medvedev can face frustrating travel issues like lost luggage, which can significantly impact their ability to compete at the highest levels of their sport. This incident serves as a reminder that the challenges of air travel are universal, regardless of one's status or fame.