Daniil Medvedev knows all about winning streaks and is impressed by buddy Andrey Rublev's breakout season.
Rublev swept Lorenzo Sonego in the Vienna final yesterday collecting his ATP-best fifth title of 2020. The hard-hitting Russian has registered a dazzling 19-1 record in his last four events, including 15 straight wins at ATP 500 level events.
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Medvedev, who beat Rublev in last month's US Open quarterfinals, says the secret to 23-year-old Rublev's success is no secret. He points to Rublev's work ethic, the training he's done in Spain with coach Fernando Vicente and the fact he's injury-free for the first time in years as the keys to his winning streak.
"First of all, on practice he works so hard for all his life," Medvedev said of Rublev. "He has been working so hard, especially when he moved to Spain. So that's the key, I think, for any tennis player, first, especially when you're younger. Maybe when you're older you have some experience going on and stuff.
"He has been practicing a lot. Some injuries were bothering him before. He didn't have injuries for a long time right now, so he's on top of his form."
The eighth-ranked Rublev was sidelined for three months in 2018 due to lower back stress fracture and six weeks last season due to wrist injury.
Fully fit, Rublev has qualified for the ATP Finals in London for the first time in his career.
Medvedev believes the best is yet to come for his former junior rival.
"[He has] a lot of confidence. We see a lot of close matches going his way, all of the tiebreaks," Medvedev said. "And, yeah, I think he didn't lose a set in Vienna, so he just amazing right now. And, yeah, as you say, it's kind of the same.
"So hopefully he can continue his form as much as he can. Of course not when he plays against me."
Photo credit: US Open Facebook