Daniil Medvedev is always a funny villain who never disappoints with his performances on and off the court. In an interview after beating Dominik Koepfer in the quarterfinals of Miami Open, the Russian appeared to be at his quirky best.
At one point in the match, the tide seemed to be turning against the World No. 3 as the German took a 4-0 lead in the first set tie break, yet the always unorthodox Medvedev found an escape to win the match. Then he tightened the screws and blow Koepfer away as he mercilessly drubbed him in the second set.
Yet in a candid interview with Tennis Channel, the 28-year-old revealed how he overcomes the adversary so consistently such that it becomes hard to explain.
“I think sometimes it happens when you lose the first set the way he lost it,” said Medvedev, when asked how the match turned so quickly.
“He played very good and was probably closer to winning it because of the 4-0 in the tie-break and when you lose such a set, especially when the points were tough, it brings your energy down.
“I knew I had to use that in the beginning of the second set. That’s why it was the most important and I managed to do it. Sometimes that happens, but the level was high today.
“There was one side where it was just a little tougher as it was wind against you and that’s the side I started the tie-break.
“So I knew it could be a little tougher on this side to play, I wanted to get to 3-3 and then go to the other side and push it.
“Then I was 4-0 down and I was like ‘this doesn’t smell good’. Then I managed to win a couple of points, apply of bit of pressure and I played good after this.
“His level was very high in the first set and he dropped a little bit and I was able to push it.
“You need to play a minimum of two sets at a very high level against me to beat me. That’s a good feeling when you come on court knowing your opponent know it.”
While reaching the quarters of Floridian Masters, Medvedev sealed his 350th tour level win, but he divulged about his ambitions to win on the biggest stages of the game.
“To be 100 per-cent honest with you, I really don’t care how many wins now,” he said. “It’s about titles now.
“I’m trying to play the biggest tournaments, trying to play the biggest guys and I’m still winning a lot, so it’s an amazing feeling.”
The World No. 4 also picked his hardest to beat player on the circuit, apart from the GOATS of the game like Djokovic and Nadal.
“If we are saying a guy who hasn’t won 20 Grand Slams, I’d say Alex De Minaur, for sure,” he stated, paying tribute to the Australian battler.
“One time I beat him at the US Open and in the press conference they told me he said his legs were gone.
“I was like, ‘wow, this is good news for me’. To make Alex’s legs go you have to do a good job.
“To be honest, everyone on the ATP Tour is used to dealing with pain. We know how to go through it and just continue playing. I feel like I have matured in this aspect.”
Defending Miami Open champion Medvedev will take on Nicolas Jarry in final last eight, as his vows to gain momentum and take things to afterburner in Miami.