Medvedev surprises by confessing what his goals are in this US Open

It's incredible to remember at this moment how well the 2026 season started for Daniil Medvedev. With two titles in the first two months, most people talked about a resurrection of the Russian player for this calendar year. How far that feels now when we look at his recent adventures.

Although he still maintains his place within the top 10, it doesn't take a genius to understand that Daniil Medvedev is currently going through one of his biggest identity crises. It's not really clear what he's playing for, nor what his objectives are; we only know that he continues to struggle against himself on the court. Will things change in this US Open? First, we’ll listen to him, and then we’ll assess.

A very special personality

“I would say I’m not good; I just feel like I enjoy talking. I’m more introverted than extroverted—not completely, but I also enjoy being silent and alone in my room. This is part of my job, and I want to enjoy my job. Already on the court, I struggle to enjoy my work, so at least here I say: ‘Enjoy.’ I have to do it, so I enjoy it. I feel that if you enjoy it, people can enjoy it with you, so probably that’s why I’ve been given the award.”

Medvedev makes a definitive decision about his rackets and strings

“No, I’ve already decided. Even if something goes wrong, which is a bit of what has happened lately, I’m not going to look back at rackets or strings. I love my racket, and I love my strings, and I know I can play incredibly well with them. In an ideal world, maybe you should adapt a little if the ball or the surface changes, but I’ve decided that I don’t want to get back into that and become someone even crazier on the court thinking about rackets and strings. I love my racket, I love my strings, and I’m going to keep them.”

Medvedev comments on Alcaraz's return to competition

“Of course, we don't know in detail about the injury he had, but I think if he is here and going to try to play, it means he and his team are confident that the injury is not going to worsen. In my opinion, regardless of what happened with his wrist, I don't know exactly what it was, it doesn't matter if he plays two or five sets, three or five because in a best-of-three match, you can also play three sets. If he weren't completely recovered, he could play a 7-6 in the third and probably it would hurt. I don’t think two additional sets would significantly strain his body. It might be different for his entire body because he's been out for a long time, but probably not for his wrist if he is already recovered. It'll be interesting to see how he responds if he has a tough match. If he feels pain, he could retire at any moment. I find it really nice to see him here and playing. If I have the chance, I will definitely watch his match. Plus, he’s playing against my friend Roman, so it will be interesting. I hope he doesn't feel any pain and can play freely.”

A more open US Open without Sinner

“I think it depends. If you are Arthur Fils or Sascha Zverev, for example, Arthur won Cincinnati and currently has confidence, while Sascha has played three Grand Slam finals this year. They are probably thinking they have a greater opportunity without Jannik and perhaps with Carlos still not fully at his best. I just want to find my game and get through a few rounds. I’m not thinking of anything crazy. But generally speaking, anyone who has two good weeks will have more chances when Jannik is not here because when he is here, it's a huge challenge to defeat him. Not many players have been able to do that this year. So, of course, the draw is more open than before, but there are still players who go far in every tournament and will try to ruin others' opportunities.”

Image

Medvedev explains why he is struggling so much

“It’s not easy at all, because the difficult thing about tennis is that you’re looking for confidence. And the thing is, everyone who is among the top hundred knows how to play tennis. As soon as you lower your level a bit, for any reason—double faults or forehand errors—they will take advantage of it because they are good tennis players. You need to be at your best level to prove you are a top 10 player capable of beating many. If you want to win a Grand Slam, you need to be at your best level for three, four, five sets and all that. I haven’t been able to do that exactly in the last tournaments, and that’s why I’ve lost. It’s as simple as that. Of course, I’m looking for solutions, but the change is quick and it’s not like I have four weeks on the practice court to try things out. I love New York, I love the US Open, so I’m going to give it my all; I’ll fight hard and try to bring my best tennis. If I can do that, I could be in a good position to do great things. If not, we will be here with this trophy and will go home.”

Nishikori's last US Open

“I’ve played many matches against Kei. I loved playing against him. He was a tough opponent, a difficult competitor. He was very consistent at the highest level, especially after coming back from some injuries, which was not easy. A lot of respect for Kei. I know these are his last days on a tennis court. In fact, he has had a great career here. It’s a pity he didn’t make it to the end because I could have even played against him; you never know. But a lot of respect for him, and I hope he enjoys his life after tennis.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev sorprende al confesar cuáles son sus objetivos en este US Open