Medvedev: "Today, the goal was to show that I will always be there, I will always fight."

Fernando Murciego | 9 Jul 2024 | 21.18

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Although many did not expect him to go very far in Wimbledon, the good old Daniil Medvedev is now just two wins away from becoming the champion. Once again, the Russian seized the opportunity to defeat the world No.1 and assert his candidacy in Grand Slams, a category where he is always a clear threat. A triumph he had been chasing for a while which came on Tuesday on the grass of London, a surface that suits his game better with each passing day. This is how he assessed it hours later in the press room.

First words after the victory

"I feel very good, although a bit tired, it was a very tough match. I am happy to be back in the semifinals once again, I will surely face a very tough opponent. Today was a match with many ups and downs on both sides; I'm not exactly sure what Jannik said, but at some point I could feel he was physically struggling, so I saw him a bit down. Then he started playing better again, so I'm happy to have won."

Playing close to the baseline

"I did, yes, especially at Wimbledon, although I tried it in Halle as well, but it was harder because of the bad bounces. Here I am trying it again; it's about tactics. Like when you play against Struff, he serves at 230km/h and you are close to the line, maybe that's not the best tactic. Generally, I try to stay closer to the baseline, but sometimes I have to give myself space. Today, I think many tactics worked well, although the most important thing was serving well as many sets were decided by the serve; that's grass court tennis."

Options on both sides

"Tennis is a pure game; I feel I should have won the first set, but I lost it. I had it in my hands with my serve, I tried to go for it, but I overthought. Then, in the third set, I vividly remember that last shot; it had to continue to try, that's what tennis is about. In the Australian Open, I think I had a break point in the fourth set, but he hit an ace. Maybe I would have won the tournament if it weren't for that; you never know. That's why people love tennis, and that's why players often drive themselves crazy."

Many matches going to the fifth set

"I don't know, maybe the level is more even than before. In my opinion, grass is a very tough surface to win three sets in a row on; a simple break can decide the outcome of the entire set. If you make a bad game with your serve, a double fault or something, you already lose the set. For me, it's a matter of grass court tennis; I don't have a better answer, I'm sorry."

Improving his balance in fifth sets

"Many things in my life have come through experience. Every time I do something for the first time, I get super nervous, as if I don't know what to expect. The same happens with Grand Slams; I think in my first tournaments, I always lost in the first round, except here against Wawrinka. In Masters 1000, it took me a long time to win my first title, the same in my daily life. When I started playing five sets, it was the same; I worked very hard physically with my team, I was ready, but many times I wouldn't be. Now I handle those five sets better; I know what I have to do and how to play against them. I'm happy to have won many of these matches."

The key to defeating Alcaraz

"I have to play better, that's it. Last year, did I not serve well enough, or was it Carlos who returned incredibly? I don't know, what I know is I have to serve better; that's still the most important thing on grass; hit aces, serve to the line to feel better and have fewer problems. That's how you can then apply pressure with your serve. He is a tough player, hits hard, knows how to slice and fire, knows how to play tennis very well. I need to be at my best, as I was today."

Tough conditions against the best

"Whenever you play against Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, or Tsitsipas, you know it will be an electrifying match. It's about experience; I have done it many times, so I will use these free days to prepare well, it won't be a problem. The conditions have not been easy because the roof was closed, everything gets very humid, there's not much air. There is a risk of losing concentration at some point because of all that humidity and the sound of the rain; you don't hear your shots as well. It's like something is constantly falling on your head; it's not easy for anyone, so you can only try to do your best."

His main mission against Sinner

"For me, what was important today is that I had lost to him five times, a lot of close matches, but the last one was super easy. It's fine; it can happen. Today, it was important to go out there and show that we will continue playing many more times, whether in semifinals or quarterfinals, but for me, it was important to demonstrate that I will always be there, that I will always fight and try to make your life difficult. I don't know if he will win more or I will, but I will fight. Even beyond the result, today the goal was to show that every time I am there, I will fight to win; it's about attitude, just like with Carlos last year at the US Open."

Does it hurt to have only one Grand Slam?

"I don't dwell on it too much; I would love to have 6 Grand Slams, 10, 26, more than Novak (laughs). I always did everything I could; even Rafa says I could have done better in some tournaments. Jannik has been very tough physically, so I am less sad in that aspect. As I always say, it's better to lose in the final than in the second round against Ruusuvuori. I could have lost there, but at that moment, I managed it and made it to the final. I try to give my best, always fight, so I hope to win more Grand Slams. I believe in myself; I believe in my tennis; it's important not to regret anything when my career ends. Now it's time for something new; I am happy with my career."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev: “Hoy el objetivo era mostrar que siempre voy a estar ahí, siempre voy a pelear”