Danil Medvedev is practising in Perth ahead of with the rest of the Russian team ahead of his debut in the inaugural edition of the ATP Cup against Italy’s Fabio Fognini on 3 January.
Russia is one of the strongest contenders for the ATP Cup title, as it features two players (Medvedev and Karen Khachanov) in the top 20. Russia has been drawn in a tough Group D against the United States, Italy and Norway.
Medvedev is aiming at his first Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open after losing an epic five-set US Open final against Rafael Nadal. The 23-year-old Russian player started his successful 2019 season by reaching the final in Brisbane. He lost to Novak Djokovic in a 3-hour and 15-minute fourth round battle at the Australian Open.
The young Russian star won his first title of last season in Sofia before reaching the semifinal in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo and the final in Barcelona. He started the grass season with a semifinal at Queen’s before losing in the third round at Wimbledon.
He reached six consecutive finals during a highly successful hard-court season. He lost to Nick Kyrgios in the Washington final before suffering another defeat against Rafael Nadal in the Montreal Masters 1000 final. Mevdedev clinched two consecutive Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai and became the first Russian Grand Slam finalist since Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open and the highest-ranked Russian player since number 4 Nikolay Davydenko in 2008.
“Being in a Grand Slam makes you confident for the upcoming significant tournaments because you know you are capable of achieving that. Before the US Open, my best result was the fourth round and I was not sure about my abilities at Majors and in the best-of five encounters. I know it is possible to compete for the titles there but it is not granted that you have to win a Major in your career. I am going to do my best”, said Medvedev.
In the second singles match Karen Khachanov will face Stefano Travaglia before the final doubles match.
“Even without Matteo Berrettini, Italy still has a strong team. It is crucial to make a good start. We will prepare well and do our best on the court. You never know what is going to happen and you have to be ready. Everyone can play tennis and all teams are dangerous. That’s why we have to give our 100%. That’s what I can promise and the results should come. We don’t really have a good record playing with each other. This is the opportunity to change that at the beginning of the new season. I think Danil and I have different styles of play and sometimes you just don’t fit each other, but we could play the doubles if necessary”, said Khachanov.
