WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 19, 2021

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/G. Dimitrov

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Great win today. How do you feel about the match?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, definitely a great level of tennis. Was pretty hot today, so I think it was tough for both of us. A few moments in the match I felt like, not that I don't have a lot of fuel left, because you always have a lot, but it was really tough, and that's the moment I actually saw Grigor suffering, also struggling. That's how it is. It's the same for everybody.

Body's more used to the heat now than it was in Tokyo, for example. Really happy with the level of play, two sets, great victory, perfect to be 100% ready for tomorrow.

Q. What do you think was the main difference today between you and Grigor?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Since we had so many long rallies, I think two biggest difference today was the serve where I was able to get more easy points on my serve. Yeah, just make my life easier with this.

I think I probably won a little bit more points when it was over nine shots, or usually they have these statistics, I think I would be on top of this, and that's what made the biggest difference today in the match.

Q. (Question about long rallies.)

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I mean, with Grigor it's tough to do otherwise, because he's one of the best movers on the court, so unless you go for the line, which sometimes you don't have to because it's very risky, you will have long rallies.

So I knew I was ready, and the goal was to be on top of these long rallies, so I'm happy I managed to do it.

Q. You had a little bit of a fall. I think it was the second set. Was it serious?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, actually, my racquet, you cannot see this on the video, but my racquet went in between my legs, so I hit my calf, from the back of the calf. I don't know how this happens. That's why I fell down.

Like a football player, if they got hit in one leg, sometimes you don't see it, but his leg hits the other leg. So that's kind of what happened. I actually have bruise on my calf, which is okay, a bruise is a bruise, nothing serious, but just to say I was not simulating (phonetic) or anything. It's fine. It's no problem.

Q. Looking ahead to the US Open, do you feel like winning Toronto and reaching quarterfinals in Cincinnati is putting you in the best possible position going into a Grand Slam?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I mean, the more matches you win in these two tournaments, because they are very similar to New York, the more confidence you're going to have. Yeah, confidence is a big key in tennis.

So of course it's good that I'm coming there knowing that I'm capable of playing good in these conditions, because every year is a new year. Haven't been here for a year, so we never know.

Now I know that it's possible. A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. Going to have tough opponents. They want to beat you. They want also to do good. Hopefully I can just show my best tennis, and that's how I'm capable of doing big results.

Q. I was talking to John Isner about the crowd. Seems like the crowd is coming back to normal. I want to get your thoughts on that, maybe having bigger, full capacity, as opposed to bubbles or less or no fans.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It's cool. It's cool that the crowd is back. Of course actually also what we need to see is the number of cases, especially between us tennis players. If, for example, there is going to be tournament where there is 100% capacity and then the positive cases go up, then there is going to be question.

If it doesn't, then perfect. With the crowd, it's much more fun, and, yeah, nothing else to add, actually.

Q. Tsitsipas was talking to the media. He made a comment in regards to people getting vaccinated. He feels that people in his age group shouldn't really get vaccinated, so they can actually get the virus and get immunity to it. Wondering your thoughts on it or comment on it if you can.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, the most important thing I have to say is that I'm for people being safe. That's the only thing I have to say on this, actually.