Medvedev: Rested and Ready for Next Big Step

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Medvedev: Rested and Ready for Next Big Step

PHOTO SOURCE: MARK PETERSON/ CORLEVE

Daniil Medvedev is feeling fresh and brimming with confidence once again as he prepares to play the first major of 2020 in Australia. The Russian became a big sensation at last year’s US Open, when he took fans on a wild ride and became the so-called villain of the tournament. His status as villain was short-lived because by the time the final rolled around he had won over the hearts of the New York fans, and that affection only grew stronger when he nearly erased a two sets to love deficit in a thrilling final against Rafael Nadal.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne on Saturday the Russian said he had to go incognito on the streets of New York after that magical final to avoid being recognized by fans, but even that typically effective tactic was not enough.

“I had to wear a hoodie, sunglasses, still people recognize me,” Medvedev said. “I would look at myself in the mirror, How can you recognize me? I cannot recognize me.”

After his run in New York Medvedev would solidify his elite status with titles in St. Petersburg and Shanghai (he reached six finals in succession in total), but he hit the wall at the finish line and dropped his final four matches of 2019, including a memorable and gut-wrenching tilt with Nadal at the Nitto ATP Finals where he held a match point and failed to protect a 5-1 lead in the third set.

After a full season that featured 80 matches and 59 wins, it wasn’t really all that surprising--and understandable.

“I felt that I was kind of burned out,” Medvedev said of the way he finished 2019. “I mean, I still fought in good matches, had 5-1 against Rafa [at the ATP Finals], so I could win the matches even if I lost all of three. But I felt that I needed some rest, some, I would say, restart.”

Medvedev says a solid off-season has helped him recharge his mind and body, and he’s feeling confident again, especially after nearly knocking off Novak Djokovic in one of the most riveting matches of this year’s ATP Cup in Sydney last weekend.

”I had great five matches in ATP Cup, won four of them,” he said. “[I am] Feeling great about my game and myself.”

Whether he can win the upcoming Australian Open or not (according to Oddschecker, he's the No.3 favorite to win it all), Medvedev feels good about the fact that he has gained valuable experience against the ATP’s Big 3 of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer. He knows, like all aspriring ATP megastars, that to get deep into the majors one must be prepared to face the Big 3 challenge.

Medvedev is 2-10 lifetime against the Big 3, with his only wins coming against Djokovic at Monte Carlo and at Cincinnati last year. But that record hasn't stopped the Russian from making progress or, perhaps more important, believing that he is getting closer and closer to cracking the code.

“The more times you play them, the more you know where you are comparing to them,” Medvedev said. “For example, match in ATP Cup, Novak was kind of all over me. I managed to get back, almost win the match. I mean, he still won it. They won the whole ATP Cup. But I felt I was really close. Matches like this gives you confidence to see that you're able to do it, but it's really tough.”

The World No.4 will open his Australian Open with Frances Tiafoe of USA, a player who had a significant breakthrough in Melbourne last year when he powered into the quarterfinals.

“I think it's going to be a great match,” Medvedev, who won their only previous tour-level meeting last year at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., said. “Of course, I want to do my best to win it. Hopefully I can show some good tennis. Like this, I'm going to have my chances."

Though Medvedev has stated that quarter-finals would be a satisfying result for him in Melbourne, he admits his appetite is a little bigger than last eight.

"As I always say, for me the first goal is to win it step by step," he said. "If I'm in quarters, I'm not going to be there and say, 'Okay, I've done my goal, it's enough for this tournament.' Any tournament I play, I want to win it. ”

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