Daniil Medvedev Says Breakthrough On Clay Achieved With Use Of New Strings - UBITENNIS

Daniil Medvedev Says Breakthrough On Clay Achieved With Use Of New Strings

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

Daniil Medvedev believes a change made to his equipment at the start of the year has helped him achieve what he describes as one of his greatest wins at the Italian Open on Sunday. 

The former US Open champion defeated Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5, in the final to claim his first-ever ATP title on clay. A surface that the Russian has previously said he was not fond of. Before Rune, he also secured straight sets wins over both Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the tournament. As a result of his run, Medvedev has risen up the rankings to No.2 on Monday. 

“In a way, number one, just because it’s the first one on clay and it’s unbelievable,” the 27-year-old replied when asked how his Rome success ranked in his career. 
“I’d never have thought I’d be able to make this. I have to be honest, a Grand Slam is always bigger. The U.S. Open is always number one there.
“This one is special because I didn’t think it was going to happen. I still don’t believe – not that I won it, but I played so well this week.”

Medvedev has already won five Tour titles this season which is the most he has won in the same year so far in his career. Before Rome, he also won another Masters 1000 event in Miami. Furthermore, he also won trophies in Dubai, Doha, and Rotterdam. 

Although it could be argued that Rome is Medvedev’s most significant achievement given his roller-coaster history with the surface. So how has the Russian managed to turn his fortunes around? 

According to Medvedev, the decision to change the stringing of his tennis rackets has enabled him to hit the baller deeper in the court. Although getting used to such a change was tough for him at first. 

“I think strings help me, the new strings I tried this year because they are just softer so the ball goes easier,” he explains. 
“I have the easy depth on the ball, which is amazing but in Australia, it didn’t work. I was 100% doubting myself. Should I go back to the old ones, I was playing good with it? I said no, let’s try more. Now it’s unbelievable.”

Whilst he isn’t the favorite heading into next week’s French Open, Medvedev has won more matches (39) than any other players on the ATP Tour so far in 2023. Six of his victories have been over top-10 players. Only once before in his career has he reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros which was in 2021. 

“It is always good to have a good draw, but it’s better to just play good and try to win it.” He said about the upcoming Grand Slam. 
“In Rome when I was looking at my draw. I was like, ‘Wow, that must be the toughest draw I have ever seen for me.’”
“It was Emil Ruusuvuori first round, Zapata Miralles who plays well on clay next, Zverev, Hurkacz. It goes on and on. I managed to do it. The draw is good, but it’s always better just to play good yourself.”

Medvedev is bidding to become the first Russian man to reach the final of the French Open since Yevgeny Kafelnikov did so in 1996. 

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