THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2021

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/J. Struff

6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Great couple of sets, then he fought back. How did you see it?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, was a tough match. Jan is a tough opponent, especially I think on grass. Has huge serve, good volleys. That's sometimes enough to win many matches on grass.

First two sets he was not at his best level. I managed to make almost all the breakpoints I had, just keep putting pressure on him.

Third set he raised up his serve and volley actually. That made the difference. It was tougher for me to get opportunities. Even when I had them, I could have done little bit better. He made one good game where he managed to break me, so this turned the match around a little bit. I started to be more under pressure.

Actually in a way it was, I feel like, good tennis match to watch because a lot of different momentum changes. Actually fourth set was kind of the most even one where we both had our chances. Both played really good.

I'm really happy that I managed to get it to the tiebreak and not lose the serve in the tiebreak and get it done. That was not easy today.

Q. It's possible for you to become world No. 1 here. Hardly anybody seems to know that. Do you know it? Is it on your mind?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I think I knew it since the clay season started that kind of I don't have any points to defend till Washington or Cincinnati, where I'll have a lot (smiling). So, yeah, I always had this opportunity.

I need to make final of a Grand Slam or win a Masters or win a Grand Slam to make it, especially with Novak who doesn't want to lose any points. So it doesn't put extra pressure on me because I always just try to do my best, try to win matches, try to win tournaments.

That's the most important. That's how you can actually become No. 1. Let's put it easy: if you win three Grand Slams in a year, you're probably going to be No. 1. That's how I see it.

Q. How big is the gap between No. 1 and No. 2? Andy Murray spent six or seven years at No. 2, a long time, before he became No. 1. How big a gap is that?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It depends. The gap, as I said, is winning Grand Slams and maybe not one in a year. Of course, we had a few No. 1s who didn't win a Grand Slam, No. 2 also. That's more an exclusion to the rule, if I say the right word. The rule is, yeah, you need to win Grand Slams and to just follow up with some good results on other tournaments. That's how you can become the No. 1.

This gap is big because so far, except Thiem, nobody of young guys, and he's not any more super young, won a Grand Slam yet. That's the difference for me.

Q. Are lots of people asking you about this? Is it just me?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: About what exactly?

Q. About the possibility of being No. 1.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I got asked these questions on clay. The results were not following, so I got asked less (smiling). I happened to answer this question few times.

Q. You come here be believing you can win more so since Saturday in Mallorca?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Every tournament I play, I play to win. Of course, if we talk, for example, let's say, Madrid and Rome, before the tournament I knew I was not feeling my best so it would be tougher to believe I can win.

After Mallorca, I'm feeling super good on grass. I'm feeling in great shape. Today played four tough sets. Physically was good. Again, tennis-wise I think it was a great match.

I think if I manage to raise my level a little bit, like always, I have opportunity to be far in the tournament. Being far in the tournament means you always have a chance to win.

Q. You must have grown up thinking I want to be No. 1. Surely all players do. Now it is possible mathematically that you can be. Is that amazing to you, mind-blowing?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It is in one way. On the other side the way I have been working especially last few years is no matter which result you do, which ranking you achieve, you always want more. I think that's why Roger, Rafa, and every actually great champion, Novak. So many people would, I don't know, win five Grand Slams, four Grand Slams, say, Okay, my career is already at highest it could be, so why to try more.

In one way, of course, if I think about myself being a six-year-old kid watching Rafa and Roger play already, saying, I want to be amongst them, this is mind-blowing. On the other side I'm here already for few years, so it feels normal in a way. I always want to achieve more. That's the only way I see things talking about my career.