From our correspondent – Daniil Medvedev will try to dispel an incredible taboo at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The Russian tennis player added 20 trophies to his list during his career, but he never managed to defend his title on any of these occasions.
An anomalous statistic if you think about the value of the player in question, but one that the Moscow native has to deal with. Medvedev explained that he only suffered a minor injury in Madrid – he retired in the quarter-finals during the match with Jiri Lehecka due to a groin problem – and revealed he is ready to compete in Rome.
From the physical conditions after Madrid to Djokovic and Nadal: Medvedev’s words
“I’m fine. It was a minor injury. I trained with my sparring partner after Madrid to control my movements. I’m ready to play.
There is no risk that the situation will worsen. Injuries on clay? In general they are coincidences. In my life I have more chances of getting hurt because of my style, because I played a lot on hard courts when I was younger.
On clay you have to slide, defend and for my body it’s worse. It’s different for everyone though. My perspective on clay has changed, I’m playing well on this surface,” Medvedev said at the press conference.
“I was curious to understand where I could get to Madrid, because I was playing well. I felt I had a chance. Now I am aware that I can achieve good results on clay. Defend a lot of points? Maybe I should put more pressure on myself, because normally I don’t do that( laughs, ed.).
I’ve never defended a title, so I would have to say I feel the pressure (laughs, ed.). A new year is a new year, you will continue to lose points. I’m happy to be second in the Race. If I keep playing like this, at the end of the season I could become number two.
I don’t feel the pressure.” The Russian then spoke about the value of Novak Djokovic on clay; a value that is often underestimated considering the numbers Rafael Nadal on red. “When you play in the same generation as Rafa – who won 14 times Roland Garros – it’s hard to find anyone who comes close to his legacy on clay.
But Novak is fantastic on all surfaces. Maybe he won fewer titles on clay because of Nadal, but we could say the same about Rafa on hard and grass. Novak’s game adapts better to the other two surfaces, where he is extraordinary.
On land it seems more vulnerable. But he won Roland Garros three times: that’s why he is one of the best athletes in the world.” On the favorites in Rome he finally added: “Novak, because he is number one.
I could be on the list too. It is never easy after an injury to immediately return to performing at your best level. The first match will be very important to see where I am. I think if I play well in the first match, then I can be one of the favourites”.
