US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev says he ‘hopes’ that he will not get involved in any future controversies on the tour as he looks to continue his stellar form at this week’s Shanghai Masters.
The 23-year-old is bidding to reach his sixth consecutive final on the ATP Tour. Since Wimbledon, Medvedev has won 24 out of 27 matches played. One of his most notable performances occurred at Flushing Meadows where he took Rafael Nadal to five sets in a thrilling final. However, it was at the US Open where Medvedev also got caught up in a series of antics. After one match he mocked the crowd during an on-court interview after they were booing him. Something he now regrets.
“I try to think still most about tennis, and I think I have done it very well regarding especially my results, even after the stories.” Medvedev said at a pre-event press conference on Sunday.
“Of course tennis is the most important, but I’m also taking care of my behaviour. I’m not happy with what I have done, I said it like a million times, but I hope it won’t happen again.”
Eager to avoid any sort of controversy in the future, Medvedev enters Shanghai as the third seed behind Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. It will be the start of the Asian swing for the Russian, who admits that the jammed-packed past two months has caught up with him.
“I had some pain in my quadriceps, so I needed to take some time off.” He explained.
“I think my body is back in shape. I arrived quite early in Shanghai to get used to the conditions, to the jet lag and everything. Hopefully I can be 100% on my first match.”
Medvedev has already won 54 matches on the ATP Tour this season, which is more than any other player. In 2019 he has claimed a trio of titles, including his first at Masters level in Cincinnati. Against top 10 opposition, he has scored six victories. To put that into perspective, before this year he had only recorded one in his entire career.
The rise of the world No.4 is one he believes wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the support of his team. He has been coached by France’s Gilles Cervara since 2017.
“My team is a big part of my success,” he stated. “Of course it’s me holding the racquet [and] playing on the tennis court. But if I would just travel without anybody by my side, I would never be where I am right now.”
Medvedev, who has a bye in the first round, will open up his campaign against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Norrie defeated Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-2, in his opening match.