THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2023

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Daniil Medvedev.

Daniil, just give us your thoughts on your preparations so far for The Championships.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I came here quite early Tuesday evening. So trying to prepare. You never know before the tournament how it's going to go.

But I'm really looking forward because, yeah, first two slams were not as I expected. This can happen. So I have even more kind of goals towards Wimbledon to try to show my best tennis.

But, yeah, the draws are always tough. You can have tough opponents. So I'm just looking forward to play some good tennis.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Up until quite recently, I don't know exactly when it changed, your ATP bio used to say that grass was your favorite surface. Did that used to be true?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It used to be true just before I started playing better on hard courts (smiling). Now, yeah, I love hard courts. To be honest, by the results, clay is better than grass right now for me. So I want to try to change it.

I feel like I can play well on grass. Last year I made two finals in the three tournaments that I played. Just need to find my way, find my rhythm. That's the last tournament where I can do it.

Q. Is it really important to you, given the meaning of this tournament, to the sport, to excel here?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: That's the thing. So when I came here the first day, when you come the first day, you can travel the grounds. There are no fans. Every player to go from Aorangi to the main site.

I definitely feel like every time you come to Wimbledon, it's the same feeling, especially the first day. Because then, like everything in life, you kind of get used to what you see.

The first day you come, it was the same for me in juniors, you're like, Wow, that must be the best place in the world. Every flower seems to be in the right order, the right color. The locker rooms are unbelievable. Food is great. I mean, the atmosphere around the site itself, first day you always say, Wow, that's the best tournament.

The only bad thing, when you lose, you go crazy. You're like, No, I played so bad.

That's why I want to try to make it even a happier place for me.

Q. Andy Murray was talking before about how important was experience for him, like his biggest weapon. You are at a age that you mix the experience with the youth. What do you think is most important in tournaments like this?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Tough to say. Better ask Novak or guys like this the question who won more Grand Slams (smiling).

But, yeah, I feel like it's the mixture of things because every time you hear little bit older players talk, they all talk about experience, for sure, because it's true that physically maybe you are not as strong as you were before, so they must start to use something else to actually physically not get tired.

Look at Novak. He turned 36 or 35 this year?

Q. 36.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: That's crazy.

We saw it with Carlos, that it's actually Carlos who got nervous, got cramps. Probably physically Carlos is just stronger just given the age difference.

But, yeah, I hope I have some experience, especially in terms of match play, of big matches on big courts, playing on big courts, big tournaments, to try to do well in the big tournaments like here. That's what I say.

For example, this Roland Garros I played Thiago. He went from quallies. I have more match experience. He played unbelievable and beat me.

It's always a mixture of things. Hopefully here I can use my experience and my (indiscernible) to try to do well.

Q. You said the first two slams you're going to use that as motivation. You didn't say that missing last year was motivation. It doesn't make any difference to you coming back that you've not been here for two years?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I really missed it. That's kind of the only thing. I always said, I love playing this tournament. Again, my first junior win was here. I lost Roland Garros quallies. It was my first main draw and my first win. It was just unbelievable feeling.

When you are young, I would say you're more nervous and more excited because you are like, Wow, maybe that's my last Grand Slam in my life. When I was young, I didn't really think I would be able to make it where I am right now. So I thought, Okay, maybe that's my only Wimbledon I'm going to play. I was so nervous going on the court. Since then, every time coming back here, I feel really, really special to be able to play.

So talking about last year, I follow the rules, so I couldn't play. I spent the time with my family. We had a good vacation.

I was definitely disappointed, but I always try to find positives. It doesn't give me extra motivation. But the fact that Wimbledon for the moment is my worst slam in terms of results, maximum first round. I want to try to improve it, I want to try to play well. Yeah, I have big goals for this year.

Q. Do you think that will help, the fans might be won over by that, that fact you took everything in your stride as an individual?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I don't know how it's going to work with the fans. You never know. You come on the court, I don't know how will they feel.

When I go out in London or here even in Wimbledon, seeing some people from the grounds and stuff like this, I feel like we're in a good relationship with London.

But you never know. Sometimes I can get angry on the court and lose the crowd. Sometimes I can get angry on the court and win the crowd like this. Let's see how it goes.

The only thing, yeah, I love this tournament. As I said in the beginning, especially the first couple of days you come here, you're like, Wow, there's no better place.

Let's see if they hear these words (smiling).

Q. Having beaten Novak in a major final, you have a different perspective than most on what he's achieved, the difficulty to attain major titles. What is your perspective at this moment given what he's accomplished and still accomplishing at this age?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, first of all, I don't know how does he do it. The thing is that I feel like I can feel this in most of the players - probably except Rafa, Novak and Roger - is that we all can have bad days and really lose it like to guys outside of top hundred when they're on a good day, to qualifiers, to wild cards, to whoever. I feel like that's normal in sports. One has a bad day, the other has the best in his life, the result is done.

I think if I saw it right, Novak is almost 50%. I think I saw he played 70 majors, and 35 he was in the final. I don't know how is it possible. He doesn't have bad days? Actually, he does, like everybody. Even on these bad days, he manages to beat the opponent.

It's actually tough because it's one against one. Both of them want to win. I don't know how he's doing it. That's why he's for me the greatest in the history of tennis. But this is basically, of course, debatable.

To be able to beat him when he was going for a Grand Slam, maybe he was a little bit tighter than usual, but I played an amazing match. This gives me even more pride that I was able to do it, given what he continued to do after this.

At the same time, from the other perspective, a slam is a slam no matter against who you win, no matter how you win it. It's a US Open title. Yeah, I'm just happy that I was able to do it.

I don't want to stop. I want to try to continue to play against him again in the finals, or against anyone else. That's what I didn't manage to do since some time.

Q. I was wondering, Sabalenka made a remark, statement, that she wouldn't be answering questions of a political nature. Is that your feeling also?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I feel like I can answer. I don't know, yeah, if everyone will be happy with my answers or not. Yeah, I feel like I can answer everything.

Q. Very quickly then. What is your position in regards to tennis players such as yourself, but others, using the position, the platform to discuss the war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, the thing is that I have always said that I cannot talk for other players because I have always lived like this. I don't like to force others to say anything. If anyone doesn't want to raise his voice, that's his position.

Mine, I always said the same. I am for peace. Yeah, not much more to add.

Q. Wimbledon has made it pretty clear where they stand on the war in Ukraine. They're very supportive of Ukraine. Do you think that's going to color how the fans respond to you?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: As I said, for the fans, I have no idea. I don't know. I go on the court, then I see. When I go on the court, I always try to be myself.

There are definitely some tournaments where people, for whatever reason, like me less. Some tournaments I feel like I get a lot of support. That's, of course, a great feeling.

The more I play tennis, the more I feel like if you try to fake something to win the fans over, first of all, they probably going to feel it, maybe if not straightaway but sooner or later. You're going to get, like, drown in these lies because you're not going to remember where you lied the last time. If you tell the truth, it's easier.

And talking about Wimbledon, as I said last year, I'm following the rules. I'm happy I'm able to play this year, a tournament I love. Hopefully I can show some good tennis and stay here for longer.

Yeah, not much more to say.

Q. What about their stand here, a strong stand, stronger than most other tournaments?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: As I said, it's their position. It's the position of the tournament. Me, I'm just here to play tennis.