As he prepares for his fifth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals look, Daniil Medvedev has a rating to settle. The world No. 3 went 0-3 final season in Turin, however that report tells only a small a part of the story.
One yr after profitable two final-set tie-breaks in a runner-up end on the season finale, Medvedev misplaced all three of his 2022 Turin matches in decisive tie-breaks — defeats in opposition to Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However as a former champion, the 27-year-old shouldn’t be too involved a few repeat efficiency.
“I really feel undoubtedly perhaps a little bit bit much less stress, as a result of earlier than I received [the 2020 title], I misplaced three matches in a row,” he identified. “However the identical time, tennis is such a… let’s name it a cyclic factor. Final yr, I misplaced three matches, and three of them have been actually shut within the decisive tie-break, I feel two of them I used to be serving for the match.
“So for certain this yr coming there, I wish to attempt to be higher. And that is precisely what occurred a few years in the past, after I managed to win it. So let’s hope it should be the identical story.”
Medvedev used final yr’s misfortune as motivation for his offseason, and he rapidly made amends within the early a part of 2023. Throughout a stretch of 5 tournaments from mid-February to early April, he reached 5 finals and received 4 titles, together with on the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami.
Daniil Medvedev together with his Miami Open trophy in 2023.” />
Medvedev additionally lifted 500-level trophies in Rotterdam and Dubai throughout that interval. He would later add a second ATP Masters 1000 trophy — his first tour-level clay title — in Rome earlier than reaching the US Open ultimate and advancing to ATP 500 finals in Beijing and Vienna.
“I’ve had a tremendous season on many ranges, however the 500s have been fairly wonderful. I acquired a whole lot of factors and good wins in opposition to nice gamers,” mentioned Medvedev, who earned essentially the most Pepperstone ATP Rankings factors throughout the 13 ATP 500s this season.
Medvedev Tops ATP 500 Bonus Pool For 2023
“I began the yr very strongly by profitable the primary two 500s I performed in Rotterdam and Dubai, in order that opened an enormous hole on a whole lot of gamers and I’ve managed to complete sturdy on the finish right here in Vienna,” he added, charting his path within the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin.
Throughout his Vienna run, Medvedev mentioned this was most likely one of the best season of his profession, although he rued the dearth of a Grand Slam title to match his 2021 US Open crown. A second Nitto ATP Finals title would go a protracted strategy to consolidate this as a standout season for the baseliner — however he is aware of he should beat a number of nice champions to develop into the singular champion in Turin.
“You play in opposition to one of the best gamers on the planet,” he mentioned of the season finale. “In order quickly as you go to the third set, and the ending of the third set, it should be powerful for each of you, and also you each know take care of this stress.
“Final yr, I used to be not sturdy sufficient to handle to make it. This yr, I’ll attempt to be stronger.”
Medvedev tops the ATP Tour leaderboard in matches received this season with a personal-best 64 victories in comparison with simply 16 defeats. However ought to he endure a setback in opposition to one among his elite foes in Turin, the outcome won’t essentially finish his possibilities on the title because of the distinctive round-robin format.
Whereas he won’t strategy the group stage in a different way than some other match — aside from the data that he’s up in opposition to the world’s best from Day 1 — Medvedev is aware of he may benefit from that second probability in his again pocket if wanted.
“I feel what it modifications is for those who lose a match, that is if you get the second probability, which in tennis would not occur besides this match. And that is the one time,” he defined.
“However if you go into the match, one of the best feeling is making an attempt to not lose [each] match, attempt to win each match doable and get to the ultimate like this. However I feel we now have a whole lot of tales the place somebody misplaced the primary match after which received the entire thing. So that is what makes it this match particular.”
