Born_to_slice
Legend
Speaking in his pre-tournament presser ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters, the world No. 2 admitted that clay is not his surface of choice.
“I’m not hiding this, I don’t like clay,” Medvedev said. “I’m not going to South America, although I like to travel. I would like to go there once in my life, of course. But I’m not going to go there instead of Rotterdam, Marseille or Dubai. I’m not going to play on clay in South America during that time.
“But especially after what happened two years ago, I know I can play well on this court. Every time I practice on clay, after when I play my match, I try to do my best, but it’s difficult for me. I hope I’m going to have good results this year after the good work I’ve been doing.
“But honestly, there’s nothing I like on clay. There’s always bad bounces, you’re dirty after playing. I really don’t enjoy playing on clay.”
Two years ago, Medvedev did beat Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach Monte Carlo semifinals. But otherwise it’s been tough for the Russian on clay. He’s 0-4 at the French, 0-2 and Rome, 0-2 at Madrid. But he’s hopeful of turning that around.
“Mentally I think for me the most important is going to be to know that some shots that maybe would be winners or which I would win the point on hard courts, it’s definitely not the case on clay courts,” said Medvedev. “You need to do maybe three good shots, like one of which would be enough on hard courts. That’s tough sometimes for me to understand.
“Also, of course, the quality of my ball after the bounce. If I play like on hard courts, it’s not that amazing with my flat strokes. Working on putting some more spin, some more trajectory.
“Yeah, all of this is tough because for 10, 9 months, I’m playing like I’m used to, then I have to change it for two months, still keeping the things that I do well also. Like you cannot change completely your game.”
Medvedev also couldn’t understand why French Open was moved back for one week. “I must say it’s a bit ridiculous. But not on the part of the French Federation or the government, it’s just the general situation. When you look at that way, it gives you the feeling that if you postpone by one week, the COVID will disappear in one week.” “I’m not talking about me, but a player who is going to the quarterfinals in the French Open will be in a bad situation for the grass court season. In that case he will only be able to play Wimbledon. It’s never easy to play only one tournament in the grass court season.”
Medvedev, who resides in Monte Carlo, will be able to stay at home for the event. He’ll open up against either Filip Krajinovic or Nikolaz Basilashvili.
“I’m not hiding this, I don’t like clay,” Medvedev said. “I’m not going to South America, although I like to travel. I would like to go there once in my life, of course. But I’m not going to go there instead of Rotterdam, Marseille or Dubai. I’m not going to play on clay in South America during that time.
“But especially after what happened two years ago, I know I can play well on this court. Every time I practice on clay, after when I play my match, I try to do my best, but it’s difficult for me. I hope I’m going to have good results this year after the good work I’ve been doing.
“But honestly, there’s nothing I like on clay. There’s always bad bounces, you’re dirty after playing. I really don’t enjoy playing on clay.”
Two years ago, Medvedev did beat Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach Monte Carlo semifinals. But otherwise it’s been tough for the Russian on clay. He’s 0-4 at the French, 0-2 and Rome, 0-2 at Madrid. But he’s hopeful of turning that around.
“Mentally I think for me the most important is going to be to know that some shots that maybe would be winners or which I would win the point on hard courts, it’s definitely not the case on clay courts,” said Medvedev. “You need to do maybe three good shots, like one of which would be enough on hard courts. That’s tough sometimes for me to understand.
“Also, of course, the quality of my ball after the bounce. If I play like on hard courts, it’s not that amazing with my flat strokes. Working on putting some more spin, some more trajectory.
“Yeah, all of this is tough because for 10, 9 months, I’m playing like I’m used to, then I have to change it for two months, still keeping the things that I do well also. Like you cannot change completely your game.”
Medvedev also couldn’t understand why French Open was moved back for one week. “I must say it’s a bit ridiculous. But not on the part of the French Federation or the government, it’s just the general situation. When you look at that way, it gives you the feeling that if you postpone by one week, the COVID will disappear in one week.” “I’m not talking about me, but a player who is going to the quarterfinals in the French Open will be in a bad situation for the grass court season. In that case he will only be able to play Wimbledon. It’s never easy to play only one tournament in the grass court season.”
Medvedev, who resides in Monte Carlo, will be able to stay at home for the event. He’ll open up against either Filip Krajinovic or Nikolaz Basilashvili.
