The three keys to Medvedev's 'renaissance'

Although the ATP 250 in Hangzhou is far from being a significant stop on the Asian tour, it is true that seeing Daniil Medvedev holding a trophy has restored some of the lost confidence most of us had in the Russian player.

The truth is that, at this point, not many are still expecting something from the Russian. I'm talking about something big; after all, we're referring to a world number one and a Grand Slam champion. His season, despite various titles, has reinforced the idea that Daniil is far from having the elements needed to compete against the best right now, but every journey starts somewhere. After achieving glory in Hangzhou, the champion gave an interview to the media Bolshoi, where he shared some of the keys to this great week in China.

“Winning titles is always fun,” Medvedev acknowledged after lifting the trophy. However, his mind was already on what’s next: Beijing, Shanghai, and above all, Turin. The Russian admits that the ATP Finals are his main goal to close the season, although he avoids turning the race into an obsession. “The goal is to play, show good tennis, try to go far in the tournaments, and then I will be in Turin,” he explained.

A more aggressive Medvedev, a better Medvedev

The difference compared to the tour in the United States was evident. Medvedev explained that in Hangzhou he found much faster courts that rewarded his serve and allowed him to take the initiative. He even recalled his best years when the conditions allowed him to serve above 200 km/h and quickly find the path to the point.

“An aggressive Medvedev is a great Medvedev,” he summarized, although he immediately noted that tennis never relies on a single element. The Russian talked about the courts, the balls, his physical condition, confidence, and even the opponent. In the United States, he said he could not find the solution because the balls did not behave as he expected, which ultimately affected his game. A point he has been complaining about for years.

Now, however, everything seems to fall into place. The title comes after a new change in his team. Medvedev confirmed that Andrey Golubev is currently his only tennis coach and explained that he decided to change directions after Wimbledon. His relationship with Thomas Johansson ended amicably, but the Russian felt he needed to try a different path.

And there came one of the most classic Medvedev responses of the entire interview. When asked if changing coaches always seems to coincide with his titles, he joked: "Perhaps it was good not to win in the United States because otherwise, I would have started changing teams every two months."

The Hangzhou champion does not want to look too far ahead right now. He has 250 more points, is around eighth place in the Race, and knows that Turin is within reach, but he also knows there is still a long way to go. “If I lose in the first rounds, I probably won't be there,” he acknowledged. That's why he prefers not to do the math; it's much better to focus on winning matches, playing well, and letting the numbers take care of the rest.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las tres claves del "renacimiento" de Medvedev