Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev targets 'one more title' after getting over 'tough' Rafael Nadal loss
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Published 20/01/2024 at 18:04 GMT
After cruising into the fourth round in Melbourne, Daniil Medvedev spoke of his future goals and revealed one of the things he likes most about Novak Djokovic. The 27-year-old has made the Australian Open final twice, losing on both occasions to Djokovic and Rafael Nadal respectively, but set his sights on going one better this year after cruising past Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.
Medvedev storms past Auger-Aliassime to reach fourth round - Australian Open highlights
Daniil Medvedev admitted his loss in the 2022 Australian Open final was “tough” to take but that it is “100% behind” him as he bids to go one better two years on in Melbourne.
Medvedev won the first two sets against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 showdown before the Spaniard roared back to prevail in an epic five-setter.
Having lifted the US Open title in 2021, had he managed to get over the line he would have added his name to the list of those who have captured back-to-back Grand Slams, a feat which would have been all the more impressive given the calibre of his opponents.
It wasn’t to be, but after breezing past Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the fourth round, the high-spirited 27-year-old said he hopes to win at least one more of the sport’s marquee events before he hangs up his racquet.
“I feel like I've 100% left this match [the 2022 final] behind,” Medvedev said. “Only future and present is ahead.
“[It] was tough. I mean, for sure wanted to win it and it was close. Then even fifth set, when he was almost winning it, I came back but still lost.
“I'm focusing on right now. I want to, as you say, try to go again to the final, try to have my chance of winning another Grand Slam.
“I had another final finally in US Open. Just want to show good tennis, beat good guys, and hopefully get one more title.”
He added: “I know what I want to do. I know what goals I have and how I want to achieve them. Like all these little things, sometimes even little things you don't know where you're going, you can feel a little lost sometimes.
“I'm probably going to feel like this sometimes during the season, especially with tennis, which is so up and down, the game.
“So far I'm feeling happy and looking forward to what's next.”
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'Too good' - Medvedev beats Auger-Aliassime in majestic performance
Up next in Melbourne is a last-16 clash with Nuno Borges, who took down the in-form Grigor Dimitrov.
If he is to claim a first Australian Open, it’s likely Medvedev will also have to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic is gunning for a 25th Grand Slam and 11th Australian Open and is the clear favourite, especially after producing his best performance of the tournament so far to ease to a straight-sets win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
The pair have met 15 times, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 10-5, and Medvedev was reminded of his first clash with the Serbian in 2017 at the Davis Cup.
He spoke of how much he has changed in the ensuing seven years since that first defeat, before revealing one of the things he likes most about one of his fiercest rivals.
“I think I matured a lot [since then],” Medvedev added. “At the time I was taking tennis seriously when I was on the court, but kind of let's call it maybe 90% or something like this. I was already top 100 [and] gave Novak a tough time.
“Completely cramped out of the court for three hours after the match. I couldn't move, it was unbelievable. Honestly this trip was unbelievable. It's good to know I could make Novak suffer on the court already back then.
“Also I cramped because I was not focusing on the food. I could basically eat fast food before the match. At the time I would think it's not important and it doesn't matter. What matters is your forehand, your backhand. Then step by step I understood how important off-court life is.
“That's the first part about Daniil Medvedev back then. For sure the story was unbelievable.”
A young Medvedev practiced with Djokovic before Serbia’s home match against Russia in the 2017 Davis Cup and was then asked if he would be interested in travelling to the venue together.
“I think that's what sometimes people don't know about Novak,” Medvedev continued. “He can be tough on the court, like I can be. He can be this and that. But since the first time I met him - I was 400 in the world and now I'm No. 3 in the world, was No. 1 in the world - I feel like he treats me like before.
“For sure I became more of a rival than before for him. But the treatment off court when we see each other is the same. I like this about him. I find this very good from him as a person.”
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