ROLEX PARIS MASTERS

November 5, 2021

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/S. Korda

4-6, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What are your thoughts on the way things went this evening? First set maybe a little bit dodgy, but you seemed to assert yourself after that.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, tough match. In the end physically was tough for both of us, you know. Indoor hard courts are always different surfaces, and I feel like first tournament you play physically is demanding, so that's what I'm feeling right now. The more matches you get, the more hours on court you get, like tournament matches, that's where it counts for your body and more you can get used to it. That's good I guess that I played a three-setter.

Talking about the match, yeah, could go into a lot of details, but in general, first set, to be honest, I should have won it. I had my opportunities. Didn't take them. Of course I would have to hold serve behind, but I did manage to break and go in front.

He played quite good. I made so-so game on my serve. First set went to him. Never easy these moments because you feel like you kind of had control of the match, but you're one set to love down and can never know what's going to happen next.

I'm really happy with myself I managed to keep calm, continue my line, continue my thing that I was doing and try to do it better. I managed to do it, and that's where I think I got a little bit in front.

If you talk about the third set, same. To break I managed to make some amazing shots. But in general had Love-30 first game, had breakpoint second game on his serve. So I think it's still logical the way the match went in the end.

Q. You have played both your matches pretty late at night. You wanted to keep that trend going, because I remember what happened in Indian Wells where you were playing at night, you got used to that, and then things went off the rails when you had to play a lot earlier and you weren't used to those conditions. Being indoors, does it really matter?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, definitely. Being indoors doesn't matter in terms of tennis. The thing is that because my first match was Wednesday, I had to play every day. And, yeah, usually when you play late you're not gonna play too early next day. The maximum is like Zverev played yesterday and played just a little bit earlier today.

I think what I remember from last year actually I was playing all my matches first. So I think, yeah, till the final I'm going to play 7:30 or second in the semis or whatever if I get there. Yeah, it doesn't matter for the tennis. It's just to have a good sleep.

I kind of like to play late. You have all the day. I don't usually stress out. Have all the day to do your things, to just chill. Then get out there and try to win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. We don't know whom you're going to meet for the quarters, but he will be either Carlos or Hugo Gaston. You were introduced as one of the NextGen members with Tsitsipas. What do you feel about this next NextGen actually, these younger players?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: When I think about Carlos or Hugo, I'm not young anymore. It's normal, they are younger than me. Alcaraz I don't even know. I think that he should be able to play juniors still because of his age, and it's impressive, because when I finish the juniors, I was ranked 700.

So it's exceptional what he's doing right now. He always plays well in France. I think he loves France. I started to watch the match before coming here. There were a lot of breakpoints.

I think it won't be easy for Hugo to get the upper hand, because they will finish late and I don't think that they are used to it. I remember when I finished after midnight during my first tournament, it was hard for me to recover the next day and to be back in shape.

We will see how they will be tomorrow against me. Both are strong players. Of course Carlos is ranked higher but Hugo can actually win against everyone in France.

Q. There was a great atmosphere, even during your match it seemed that you loved it and you got fired up. Do you like it here?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yes, very much. If the public is against me, well, my aim is win the match no matter what. If the public is against me, I have to make do.

Sometimes I have to draw upon this energy and say it's for me, even if it's not the case. This is why it's easier when the crowd cheers me. There were times, especially during the third set, where I could feel the crowd supporting me because there were crunch moments, and I really loved it. That enabled me to win the third set.

So if I play Hugo, I can understand that I will have to play against the public. If I play Alcaraz, I hope that at least it will be 50/50, let's say.