His style of play may not be the most elegant, but Daniil Medvedev (24) has reached the middle of the world class since his successes this fall. After winning the 1000 tournament in Paris-Bercy, he also remains undefeated at the ATP finals in London and takes the title and the coveted trophy.
It was an extremely cool performance: when he used his first match ball in the final against Dominic Thiem (27) from Austria after two hours and 42 minutes, the 1.98 meter tall Russian didn’t move a face. He runs to the front of the net to receive the opponent’s congratulations and sits down on his bench, seemingly emotionless.
“I cheered for other players”
One is used to different emotional outbursts from him from the past. The “bear” – that’s his nickname, not because of his posture but because of his surname – repeatedly misused his choice of words and verbally abused the chair judges. The current world number four also liked to fight with the fans, or he let out his anger on the rackets. All things that don’t make him a crowd favorite. But he doesn’t seem to care much. For example, when he was whistled after a victory in the Platz interview in 2019, he said: “Just keep going, your energy only makes me stronger, and I won thanks to you. Remember that when you go to sleep tonight. “
He caused a stir in 2019 with a remarkable interview with the British newspaper “Metro”. He revealed how he thought about Roger Federer (39) at a young age: “I hated Roger. I just couldn’t watch him win again and again. I cheered for the other players from the first round because I had this attitude. ” Medvedev even needed a psychologist. He managed that the 24-year-old has become calmer. Almost too quiet on the tennis court.
In a few weeks, the first Grand Slam tournament of the 2021 season should take place in Melbourne. Federer has announced that he will make his comeback at the Australian Open after a long injury break. So it is quite possible that the paths of the two will cross there. Federer and Medvedev have played against each other three times, always with the better end for the Swiss. The Russian could only win one set in the direct encounters. He would love to change something about this balance sheet.
«Dangerous for the health of the players»
But there is currently a big question mark behind this Australian Open. The ongoing corona pandemic is troubling the organizers. The tournament is scheduled to start on January 18th. Players are not allowed to arrive before January 1st and must be quarantined for 14 days after arrival. This is what the latest coronavirus regulations want in Victoria – the state where the Australian Open takes place. For the players this means that under these circumstances they will hardly have any training opportunities on site before the start of the tournament.
Medvedev sees this as endangering the health of the players. “I’m not complaining that it’s boring or anything. It’s just that leaving the room after 14 days of doing nothing and then immediately having to play five sets would be really dangerous to the health of any athlete in my opinion. I don’t think anyone will be able to go there if they have to stay in the room for 14 days beforehand. If we are not able to train during the quarantine shortly before the tournament, I don’t think the tournament will take place. “
At the moment there is apparently the possibility that the tournament will be postponed to February or even March. The organizers are covered that this is pure speculation. (sst)
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