Here is a summary of Daniil Medvedev’s interview with the Tennis Channel following his victory:
- Match Performance: Medvedev described his win as a strong mental performance, noting that he only lost one serve throughout the entire match. He admitted his level dropped slightly at the end of the second set against Fabio Fognini, but he regained control with exceptional serving in the third set.
- Recovery from Monte Carlo: He opened up about the difficult period following a loss in Monte Carlo, describing the first few weeks as tough where he was unhappy with every practice shot. He credited his return to form to day-by-day work that eventually allowed him to play better in the actual match than in practice.
- Serving Strategy: When discussing his flow state, Medvedev explained that he focuses on placement (wide, T, or body) and aiming for aces without trying to hit the line precisely, preferring to aim slightly inside so that touching the line results in a winner.
- Madrid vs. Other Clay Courts: While he has reached the quarterfinals in Madrid the last two years, he expressed a preference for slower clay courts like Rome or Roland Garros over the high altitude in Madrid. He believes that if he serves well in Madrid, he has a real chance to go deep in the tournament.
- Carlos Alcaraz’s Withdrawal: Medvedev noted that Alcaraz’s withdrawal from Roland Garros was a shock to the locker room. He observed that the pressure to beat both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is now solely on beating Sinner, which increases pressure on the rest of the field.
- Watch Collecting: On the topic of watches, Medvedev downplayed his involvement in the design process. While he enjoys visiting the brand’s facilities in Switzerland, he prefers to stay out of the creative decisions, stating he would only offer a color suggestion if asked and letting the experts handle the rest.
- UPDATE: It's over! ;-)
