Just minutes after winning his maiden ATP title on the clay in Rome, Daniil Medvedev reiterated that his one love in tennis remains with the hardcourts.
Despite previously admitting he has a rocky relationship with the dirt, the former world No.1 edged his way past Danish rising star Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5, to claim his 20th ATP trophy at the Italian Open and his sixth win over a top 10 player this year. As a result of his triumph, the Russian will rise to No.2 in the Pepperstone rankings on Monday which will be his highest position since August.
“I think we both started a little bit nervous and we were both missing our basics. At the end of the (first) set, I managed to step it up just before he did,” Medvedev said during his on-court interview with TennisTV.
“Then in the second set, he (Rune) stepped it up straight away. That was a moment where I had to stop overthinking and start just playing better. Try to go to his level and then it was a top moment from then.”
There was little to separate the two players throughout a closely contested 48-minute opening set. In the fifth game, Medvedev encountered his first challenge by fending off two break points before holding. Nudging his way to a 6-5, lead the Russian rallied his way to a set point after a rally concluded with his opponent hitting a lob out. He then sealed the lead by punishing an average Rune drop shot with a forehand winner. Prompting the frustrated Dane to shout ‘so bad’ immediately before taking a toilet break.
The cat-and-mouse chase continued into the second set with breaks of serve being exchanged between the two twice. Rune worked his way to a 5-4 lead which positioned in on the verge of forcing the final into a decider. However, he failed to seize his opportunity as Medvedev battled back to draw level as he continued to weather the storm. Medvedev then fended off another break point in the following game before closing in on victory against a rapidly tiring Rune. He prevailed on his second championship point after his rival blasted a forehand beyond the baseline.
“I always want to believe in myself and I always try to do my best. I want to win the biggest tournaments in the world. At the same time, I didn’t believe much that I could win a Masters 1000 on the clay in my career because usually I hate it (the surface). I hated playing on it, I didn’t feel good on it and nothing was working,” a candidly speaking Medvedev reflected.
“Before this tournament in Madrid and Monte Carlo, I was kinda feeling not too bad. I didn’t have any big tantrums. The guys who beat me there played better than me.’
“Coming here (to Rome) I felt amazing all practice. I told my coach that I don’t know what was happening but I’m feeling amazing. Then I had to play the toughest opponents in the world to make it happen and I’m really happy that I managed to prove to myself and everybody that I am capable of doing it.”
Before this week, the 27-year-old had reached the final of 32 Tour events but only one of those was on the clay. He has spoken openly about his dislike for the surface and once referred to himself as a ‘hard-court specialist.’ So has Rome changed his view about playing on the clay in any way?
“I don’t think I love it. I love hardcourts, it’s my only love in tennis. But I definitely love clay courts much more now,” he explained.
Medvedev is the sixth player to have won six or more different Masters 1000 events since the series was created back in 1990. He has now won 39 matches and five titles this season which is more than any other player on the ATP Tour.
