Daniil Medvedev arrives at Roland Garros 2022 no wins on clay this season. It is an unflattering scenario for the Russian, who will start as second seed and who will try to take advantage of a general feeling: few are counting on him for the title in Paris. We know that clay is not the best travel companion for the Russian, although this season he has barely been able to compete on clay after undergoing surgery for a hernia that bothered him in Indian Wells y Miami. The number two in the world admitted at a press conference that the defeat in the final in Australia and subsequent physical problems have been tough moments in his career, but he says he feels at his best and wants to compete in Paris.
How are you doing physically and mentally compared to the last Grand Slam match you played (Australian Open final)
“Everyone can go through hard times during a tournament or throughout their career. It is clear that I have lived through them, the Australian Open in general and the final in particular being one of them. I remember that I won a crazy point in the second set, if I’m not mistaken with 6-5 for me in the tie-break. I was very happy, trying to motivate myself and encourage myself and then the crowd saw it and started booing me. I thought: “well, okay” ( laughs). However, it’s been a long time and I’m happy to play tennis. Sometimes the clay can be hard, but I’m happy to be back on the tour, healthy, feeling great physically, which is the most important thing. I want to play, show good tennis and try to win some matches. And yes, I want to dream again and I am dreaming again (laughs)
What decision should the ATP make in response to the Wimbledon ban on Russians and Belarusians?
“I don’t have an answer to this question. From what I’ve heard a decision is going to be made soon, but I’m not on the Council or any tennis governing body, I don’t know what’s going to happen. There are rumours, maybe they’ll remove the points, maybe not, but I don’t know what will happen so I’ll be able to add more things when that decision is made. I’ll wait and I’m looking forward to knowing what decision they make.”
His strange losing streak against French players
“I would like to think that there is no pattern, it will be better for my career if there is no pattern there. Let’s be honest, on clay I can lose against anyone. I can play well and win some matches too, the first time I beat Novak it was on clay. If we focus on this surface, it is normal that I can lose against anyone, including the French. They are usually good on this surface. On hard courts, especially the tournaments that I have won where I have played well, I managed to beat some French I’m not afraid to face anything and I feel good playing in France, although facing a Frenchman here is not easy.”
The injury that left him out these months, a complicated hernia
“I had been playing with her for a while. It is difficult to know if it bothered me or not, since it didn’t hurt, because if the hernia starts to hurt you have to nip the problem at the root. I had been playing with her for a while and I wanted to find the best moment surgery. I also didn’t want to overdo it when playing with an injury, because the consequences can be harder. I’m happy to be back, as I heard that you usually need six weeks to play again, but I picked up the racket again only four weeks later and I did not feel any pain. I spent three weeks without doing anything and it is clear that this is difficult for the muscles, the first week was not easy. And yes, I am back step by step. In Geneva it was six weeks since the operation. I feel good physically and I’m ready to play five sets.”
The luck of the painting, with Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz in a different key than theirs
“It is clear that when you play a Grand Slam it is good not to have such big names around. We know how Novak and Rafa play here, while Carlos has been playing at a tremendous level lately. We will see how he handles the pressure: if he manages to reproduce the same tennis here, I am sure he will be one of the favorites. On the one hand, it is good to have them on the other side of the draw. At the same time, in this case I have to focus on myself more than in any other tournament. A lot of clay, very good players on the ground, I face one of them in the first round, a southpaw who gives the ball a lot of spin, I go game by game, and if I face one of those big names it will be a sign that I have done a good job tournament. I hope to see you in the second week”.
