Medvedev sets the bar low: win a match in Madrid, Rome and French Open

Daniil Medvedev’s bar for success on the clay is quite low for a Top 3 player. The Russian who has had his struggles on clay says his goal is to just win one match at each of the next three clay events in Madrid, Rome and at the French Open.

“I always said for me it’s always step by step,” Medvedev said. “So the goal actually for all three tournaments, Rome, Roland Garros, and Madrid, is to at least win one match in each of them. You know, step by step.

“Of course when I come to the tournament, the main goal is to win it. It’s tougher on clay than on hard court, so will adjust, yeah, try my best, hope to show some good tennis, because that’s the most important. When I show good tennis I can win some great matches.”

Medvedev once again went into his troubles on clay.

“I don’t think it will change, to be honest,” Medvedev said. “I think my shots, my movement, my physical appearance doesn’t suit clay.

“The big thing that motivates me is that I know that I’m capable to win matches. Two years ago I beat some really good guys. Was in really good shape. So I know that I’m capable. Just need to always find this confidence and this feeling which is tougher for me to find on clay than on hard courts.”

Last month, Medvedev tested positive for COVID and had to withdraw from Monte Carlo. After some symptoms, he’s felling better now.

“I feel fit, that’s the first thing, because otherwise I would not come here,” Medvedev said.

“So I felt some sickness symptoms. It was like a strong cold, you know, or something like this. Had some nose and throat blocked a little bit, weakness for few days but not more than that.”

Medvedev will open against Pierre Hugues-Herbert or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He could face Matteo Berretinni in the quarters and then Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. But he has never won a match in Madrid (0-2).
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DIMI_D

Hall of Fame
Think it's one in each. He never won single round in Madrid and FO.
Clay is by far his weakest surface he has had some good wins on it and his game is not badly suited to it.. I think Madrid 2nd round is a banana skin for him though! I don’t see him doing much this clay season at all he isn’t a threat to anyone decent on clay
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Medvedev always talks like this. If you pay attention to him at all you would know that he always talks about taking it one match at a time and never to look too far ahead. He always says his goal is to win a match.

This is very true of him.
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
The Madrid clay courts tends to be dry, hard, dusty, slippery and generally suck, so I can understand that sentiment.
 
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
He undersells himself. He has a win over Nole on Clay. He's not that bad on the stuff. Ok, he does acknowledge that in the interview, but still he seems to be almost humble bragging.
 

Milanez82

Hall of Fame
I imagine there is huge behind the back dealings by guys ranked 100th or so, putting pressure to get Medvedev in 1st round lol
 

NAS

Hall of Fame
But @Tennis_Hands already had Meddy pegged as the "virtual #1" and it would be the "worst case scenario" for him continue to underperform on clay :unsure:
What I have read that if Djokovic don't repeat RG and Wimbledon result then Med can win no.1 winning some matches at RG and Wimbledon.
How close is this?
 

TripleATeam

G.O.A.T.
What I have read that if Djokovic don't repeat RG and Wimbledon result then Med can win no.1 winning some matches at RG and Wimbledon.
How close is this?
At worst, after Wimbledon Djokovic has 9323 points (meaning Rome SF or worse, RG QF or worse, Wimbledon SF or worse). At the same time, at worst Medvedev will have 9640, and probably more. So Djokovic really needs to win Wimbledon or maintain some points at RG to hold on to #1.
 
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jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
So, you can provide the quote with the above "statement".

Let's see it.

:cool:
What is clear, however is that, with the last decision to count half of the points going forward, Djokovic gets to keep MASSIVE advantage over Medvedev. Between now and the NA HC swing Djokovic would have dropped over 5000 points, Medvedev around 1000. IF the points were not kept at all (and there is no explanation why they are, considering that the overwhelming majority of the tournaments are taking place), Djokovic would have fallen behind Medvedev as it stands now. That puts Medvedev in the virtual #1 position. The decision to keep half of the points gives Djokovic a cusion over Medvedev.

I removed the rest of your post. It is uninformed and even the little information that was analysed in it was a bunch of Djoke fan well wishes, which OF COURSE, propose a bunch of extremely unfavourable scenarios for Medvedev and extremely favourable for Djokovic for Djokovic to be able to hold Medvedev off from reaching the #1 position. This here is not an exercise of extreme possibilities, so your entire position is compromised.
Which was a response to my post here:
This shows Djokovic would have to outperform Medvedev by 1855 points between now and the end of the French Open to retain the #1 spot by then. Certainly not out of the question or even that unlikely given Medvedev's past performance on clay.
Medvedev's past performance on clay turned out to be an excellent predictor of what would happen this year instead of an "extremely unfavourable scenario." His only win on clay this year came on a three setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, with only the FO remaining.

It seems as though you have jinxed Medvedev, just like you jinxed Thiem before him when you put your hopes on them to overtake Djokovic at #1 :cool:
 
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Milanez82

Hall of Fame
Which was a response to my post here:

Medvedev's past performance on clay turned out to be an excellent predictor of what would happen this year instead of an "extremely unfavourable scenario." His only win on clay this year came on a three setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, with only the FO remaining.

It seems as though you have jinxed Medvedev, just like you jinxed Thiem before him when you put your hopes on them to overtake Djokovic at #1 :cool:
You can't jinx a guy that beside being crap on clay has himself predicted getting out of 2nd round as his initial goal
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Medvedev is so lucky that he can afford to be lackadaisical at something he doesn't like from his job and get away with it.
 
Which was a response to my post here:

Medvedev's past performance on clay turned out to be an excellent predictor of what would happen this year instead of an "extremely unfavourable scenario." His only win on clay this year came on a three setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, with only the FO remaining.

It seems as though you have jinxed Medvedev, just like you jinxed Thiem before him when you put your hopes on them to overtake Djokovic at #1 :cool:

So, you didn't understand back then, and you don't understand now, that it is a mere statement of fact, that removing their respective points in full would have put Medvedev ahead and are arguing on the basis of the current state of affairs, which is one where Djokovic gets to keep half of his points? It has literally nothing to do with how the race to the #1 plays out during the clay court season. The clay court scenarios were merely a pointer that Medvedev's chances even then, are more than good (which continues to be true).

You can save your childish theories about "jinxing" for the DN thread or wherever else you get together. Medvedev missed two clay court tournaments, because of testing positive, but I see that the Djoke fanboys will say anything and everything to excuse the laughable decision to hand him on a platter even more freebies than he already enjoys. It must be extremely sensitive topic for you to watch Djokovic being the biggest benefactor of the status quo: the exact opposite of what the Djoke fans have been crying about for years: to the point of not even willing to accept when someone points at their and their favourite's own hypocrisy, and (get that) going about it in threads that have nothing to do with the topic, like you did the other day, when you started to talk about the rankings completely unprovoked and out of the blue.

:cool:
 
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