ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2024

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/M. Kecmanovic

6-1, 5-0 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Daniil, not the way you want the match to finish, but were you happy with the way you were playing?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I was. As I said, till the end of the match, I didn't know he was injured. Of course, you know, you want your opponent to be full shape, healthy. And then tennis, sometimes you don't want them to play their best tennis, but unfortunate that he didn't feel good. I don't know what exactly he had, so I hope nothing serious.

But I was happy with my level and looking forward to next matches. Of course a bit lucky with all the weather to be finished in a good timing with my second round and getting ready for the third round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. You faced a player with physical problems, but did you manage to get into a rhythm, exercise your game plan, and gather more information about your level from this match?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I did. As I say, you know, I felt like first set -- well, I don't know his internal feelings, but again, I didn't know he was injured, so we were playing some tough points, some good rallies. I was moving well. I was serving well. I was feeling good on the court.

Again, I'm really happy with myself and looking forward, because for sure the tougher the opponent, the tougher the score, and the tougher the matches itself.

Q. Looking ahead to your next match, you could face Tomas. He obviously beat Novak last week and Murray in Miami. Do you pay attention to those things? Does that give him a bit more of a fear factor?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Fear, I'm not sure. I don't think I fear anyone, to be honest. Yeah, again, what you fear is that the guy is going to play everything on the line, and that's when they can beat you. He's playing good at the moment.

He's going up the rankings, playing aggressive, hitting the ball well, having good victories. I mean, final last week, so a lot of confidence.

But Navone also playing very good. I'm definitely going to watch their match, because I don't know too much about both of their games, even if I played Tomas once. So I'm going to watch it, see who wins, and get ready for the winner.

Q. I don't know if you saw or heard what Iga Swiatek said after her match last night to the crowd, asking them to keep things quiet during points. Just curious, you've had your own fun sometimes, interactions and interplay with fans. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the idea of whether it is important that the crowd stay quiet during a point and sort of what you feel about whether it's good, bad, doesn't matter, if there is sort of an extra level of rowdiness in a tennis crowd that maybe we are used to seeing at a football match or other sports.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I saw Iga's match. I didn't watch her interview. It was a great match and a great comeback, but I didn't see the interview.

I think it's very tough, because there are two ways. So right now, in a way, there are, like, the kind of, I would say, unofficial rule -- or actually an official rule, don't interrupt players before second serve and when they're ready to serve and during the point.

Personally, I like it. Because I think, I don't know if there are other sports than tennis and golf that have it, but because it's so technical and, like, I would say every millimeter of a movement you change, the ball is going to go different side. So, you know, if someone screams in your ear, your serve, you could double fault. That's as easy as that. That's not good.

At the other side, if there would be no this rule and it would be allowed all the time, I think we would get used to it. Now what happens is that 95% of matches, tournaments, it's quiet. And then when suddenly you come to Roland Garros and it's not, it disturbs you, and it's a Grand Slam so you get more stress and it's not easy.

If you ask me, I like it quiet. I like it quiet. Again, even when the crowd goes crazy, the other player's ready to serve, quiet and let's serve, let's play.

There is no in between. It either should be quiet or super loud but all the time, and then we would get used to it, I would get used to it also, and we would not actually complain about it.

Yeah, for the moment it's quiet.

Q. This is an extension of the earlier question. What has your relationship been with the French crowd? Do you find it particularly loud, or is it the same in other venues? Have you been at louder venues?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I think playing French in Roland Garros is not easy (smiling). That's for sure. I think a lot of players experience it. I would say that in US Open and Wimbledon is not the same. Australia can be tough. I played Thanasi once there on the small court. It was, whew, brutal.

Yeah, I think, you know, it's a tough question. I think as I just responded, it's good to have energy between points, but then when you're ready to serve, it's okay, let's finish it and let's play tennis. Same before first and second serve. And then when there is a changeover, when there is between points, go unleash yourself fully, it's okay.

But again, when you're already bouncing the ball, you want to get ready for the serve, if it would be 10 years we would be playing loud, we would not care. But for the moment it's not like this so when you get ready for serve, you want to toss the ball, then suddenly ten people continue screaming, the serves are not easy, so for the moment, let's try to be quiet.

Q. I don't think you've played a night match this year, but have you played the night session here before? I think you have.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Night, you mean on center, because I finished midnight my first match.

Q. Sorry. Yeah, the Chatrier night session.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, yeah.

Q. It's obviously been all men so far this tournament. Well, we haven't had a women's match on there yet. We only had one last year. I wonder if you think it's a bit disappointing when you've got matches like Swiatek-Osaka and they're not given the kind of billing that some of the other men's matches are?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, that's a question to Amazon because they decide and they probably want longer matches. Men matches will be longer than women just because it's more sets. So it's question to them; they pay money. Yeah, so not much more I can add.

But I played, yeah, I played three night sessions, and I honestly, just in terms of my sensations on the court, like, the court is heavy, slow. I don't like it. I think I lost two and won one probably. So I'm happy not to play it. But actually, the other day, the other night, I was feeling good at night here. I was playing good, good tennis. So might be different this year.

Yeah, but again, this question to Amazon, someone, I don't know who works there.

Q. We think this will be Rafa's last year, could be anywhere. You have played him a number of times. Was there a point within those matches that he felt kind of a peak level, or was there one that stands out for him at his best?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It's very tough to talk about peak, because if you talk about peak of physicality, I would guess that when he was like 25 it would be his peak and I was nowhere there yet.

But, you know, to be honest, all the matches I played against him, the official matches, because the last one was Acapulco, yeah, I even forgot about it, he was playing well, you know. Every match was different on the scoreline, on the actual match, because, you know, some matches, I don't know, I would go to his backhand, some to his forehand, and he would also change his tactics. But all the matches we played was tough to play against him, great level.

So I don't know if it was his peak or no, but I think he was still winning slams, one against me, and I guess it was still his peak. Was fun matches, and I practiced with him here, I lost, so I would definitely like to play him somewhere before he finishes.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Last year, had you played on Lenglen, the match would have been interrupted. Now we have the roof. You already played on the central court with the roof. Is there a difference between the central court with the roof on and Suzanne Lenglen?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Every time I play I think that the central court, let's say because of its space, it's slower. Even if undoubtedly the court surface is the same, maybe it's the way the stands are. They seem to be closer with Lenglen.

But now with the Suzanne Lenglen Court, with the roof on, I would say, well, the ball bounce sound changes, and it's very important for a tennis player. When the roof is on, it's harder to miss your ball. So I like it, because I already didn't miss that many balls, so I'll miss even less.

As for the Philippe Chatrier, I would say that last time I played would be three years ago, so I wouldn't say.