Daniil Medvedev says he isn’t entirely surprised about his level despite missing recent weeks of the Tour due to surgery after cruising into the fourth round of the French Open on Saturday.
The second seed was in clinical form throughout his 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, win over Serbia’s Memoir Kecmanovic. A former junior world No.1 who had beaten two top 10 players earlier this year in America. Medvedev was able to dictate play with the help of 42 winners as he won 77% of his first service points. It is the fourth match in a row he has won in straight sets at Roland Garros.
“It was a great match against a tough opponent. To be honest, before the match, I never thought I could make this score happen on clay courts,” said Medvedev.
“Everything I wanted to do today worked. I was serving great. I feel like I was almost putting all the returns in.’
“I made his life tough. Maybe he didn’t play at his best level. It’s always tough to feel how your opponent played. I managed from my side to make his life as tough as possible, and it was enough to win.”
This year’s Roland Garros is only the second tournament Medvedev has played since taking time away from the Tour to have hernia surgery. Heading into the Grand Slam, his only match play was in Geneva where he lost his opening match to Richard Gasquet.
Now gaining in momentum and a victory away from reaching the quarter-finals in Paris for only the second time in his career, the former world No.1 appears unfazed by his latest run.
“(I’m) a little bit surprised and also not because I try to believe in myself a lot. Even going to Geneva I knew it could be possible that I wasn’t going to play my best level but going there I wanted to win the tournament,” he explains.
“Coming here (to the French Open) is of course not easy after losing the first round (in Geneva) but I felt in practice that there is something that is working well.”
Historically Medvedev hasn’t enjoyed much success on the clay and he is yet to win a title on the surface. Until 2021, he had lost in the first round at Roland Garros four years in a row. Ironic for a player who speaks coherent French and has a French coach.
However, the Russian is slowly finding his footing on the clay. He may never be at the level similar to that of rival Rafael Nadal but with the chance of reclaiming the top spot over the coming weeks in sight, he is as motivated as ever.
“I want to try to make the best results possible starting from here (Roland Garros). When I had an interview with The Tennis Channel, that was the first time somebody told me if I make finals here I think I’m going to become No. 1. Great to know. That’s great motivation.” He concludes.
Medvedev will play Marin Cilic is the fourth round on Monday.
