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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday May 16, 2023

 
Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev powered past Alexander Zverev to reach the quarterfinals at Rome for the first time.

Photo Source: TTV

Meet the new Daniil Medvedev, a clay-court enthusiast who excels on the surface. What, what?

Believe it – it’s true.

Tennis Express

We are seeing a significant uptick in the clay-court form of Daniil Medvedev in 2023, as the Russian has dedicated himself to making improvements to his sliding and mental game. He’s reaping rewards this week in Rome, where he entered the draw with an 0-3 lifetime record and has powered into the quarterfinals.


In the past the Russian has made no secret of his contempt for the clay, comparing playing on clay to being a “dog in the dirt,” but in 2023 he has shown great form on the surface. Perhaps it is due to the fact that he feels good about his game overall. After a difficult 2022 season, Medvedev has been in stellar form all season, and on Tuesday he earned his tour-leading 36th victory against just five losses on the season (with four titles).

The wins aren’t that surprising, but the fact that they are coming on clay most certainly is. Medvedev entered this week with a 22-25 lifetime record on clay – and he entered the season with a 18-23 record overall on the surface.

As the weeks have passed, Medvedev has turned that record to 25-25, ahead of his quarterfinal clash with Yannick Hanfmann on Thursday at Rome.


Medvedev is 7-2 on the clay in 2023 and, perhaps more surprisingly, has rallied from a set down three times. Today he powered past rugged Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 to book a spot in the round of 16.

Prior to 2023, Medvedev owned a 3-18 record when dropping the first set on clay at the ATP level. This year, already, he is 3-2 when falling behind by a set on clay.

“I'm definitely playing my best tennis on clay right now,” he said on Monday. “Like I've never played so good in Rome or even Madrid, it was great. So I'm feeling great.”

Medvedev credits his hard work on sliding after Madrid with helping him improve on the surface.

"I think the sliding was always a problem," Medvedev told the media in Rome. "After Madrid, after I lost, a couple days I practiced there, I tried really a lot to focus on the sliding, on the movement. I felt like I improved in these couple of days."

He may not be among the handful of players with a real shot to win in a wide open Roland-Garros field this year, but then again, maybe he is?

However you rank Medvedev on clay it’s clear that he’s a lot more lethal than he was last year, and getting better every week.

 

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