By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Friday, May 26, 2023
Amazing.
That was the word Daniil Medvedev used over and over to describe his feeling at just winning the Rome title last week.
The No. 2 seeded Medvedev is also hoping that winning his first ever clay court title bodes well for his chances at Roland Garros.
Yet, the charismatic Russian was quick to point out that he’s not getting ahead of himself just yet in thinking he can win Paris outright.
“I don't know (smiling). Because I also don't want to put too much pressure on myself, in a way," Medvedev said. "But what happened in Rome was amazing, especially beating a lot of good players, you know: Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rune, Zapata Miralles, Ruusuvuori who went three sets with Alcaraz in Madrid.”
Medvedev, whose best result at Roland Garros was reaching the quarters in 2021, added the following.
“That's amazing feeling, and I'm for sure maybe have more expectation than I usually had in Roland Garros," Medvedev said. "But I know that it's also tricky and you have to kind of, you know, use this confidence, but not get cocky, if we can say, because that's where the danger is. Sometimes you think, Oh, well, I played so well, now it's going to be easy.
"Then the first round you have problems. You can get angry and maybe lose the match. So I have been in this situation many times, and I just want to try to play good tennis here in Roland Garros.”
By winning Rome, Medvedev changed the conversation about his chances in Paris.
That included rising to the No. 2 ranking which put him at the opposite end of the draw from top seed Carlos Alcaraz.
As to what has made the difference for him this clay court season, Medvedev didn’t want to attribute to one mental or physical thing that’s he been doing differently from last year.
“I don't have an answer, because I don't know. I would love to say 100% mental I changed everything," Medvedev said. "But that's not the case, you know. If I would feel on clay like the previous years, you would probably get like the lines for Tennis TV or whatever, for many more years to come.”
Medvedev added, “I wonder if it's the strings, I talk about it a lot and I do it not to promote it but I really think it could help me on clay. I said it before on hard courts that it could help me on clay and maybe did. But if not, I'm just happy and not overthinking too much. Just want to try to continue this way.”
Medvedev will face Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild in the first round.
Photo Credit: Getty