World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev remains focused on the Australian Open, saying that the setbacks have only made him stronger.
Medvedev won the US Open last September, which was his first major title in his third final. He beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic that day and ended the Serbian’s bid for a calendar Grand Slam.
His arrival at Melbourne Park was precedented by an ATP Cup defeat to Ugo Humbert this month. He rebounded with three straight victories, beating Australia’s No. 1 Alex de Minaur in the process and heading into the Australian Open with momentum on his side.
Medvedev insisted that he remained focused on the Australian Open, saying that he is looking at taking the tournament by the scruff of its neck.
“Sometimes before the tournaments, I could be a little bit concerned if I was not playing well … I would lose a practice set, I would be concerned, a little bit nervous, sometimes angry,” he said, as quoted by the West Australian.
“(The US Open title) did change this. Now I feel like I know even more what I can do, how I can play, what I have to do to play like this. Of course, tennis is about ups and downs, we never know what’s going to happen.
“In general the US Open title gave me a lot of confidence, I want to say, in my life and in my tennis life as well.”
Confidence boost
“I’m feeling much more confident than last year in terms of knowing my game (and) what I’m capable of,” Medvedev continued.
“No matter if you’re playing the ‘big three’ or anybody else, it’s really tough.
“For example, last year in the end of the year, starting from Olympic Games, Sascha (world No.3 Alexander Zverev) became really a big force, won a lot of tournaments.
“It was always like this when somebody big is quitting the sport or is starting to get a little bit less good. They’re always saying, ‘What’s next? There is nothing coming’. Yet there is always somebody or something to come,” he concluded.
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