As he prepares for his fifth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals look, Daniil Medvedev has a rating to settle. The world No. 3 went 0-3 final season in Turin, however that report tells only a small a part of the story.
One 12 months after profitable two final-set tie-breaks in a runner-up end on the season finale, Medvedev misplaced all three of his 2022 Turin matches in decisive tie-breaks — defeats towards Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However as a former champion, the 27-year-old isn’t too involved a couple of repeat efficiency.
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“I really feel undoubtedly possibly a bit of bit much less stress, as a result of earlier than I gained [the 2020 title], I misplaced three matches in a row,” he identified. “However the identical time, tennis is such a… let’s name it a cyclic factor. Final 12 months, I misplaced three matches, and three of them have been actually shut within the decisive tie-break, I believe two of them I used to be serving for the match.
“So for certain this 12 months coming there, I wish to attempt to be higher. And that is precisely what occurred a few years in the past, after I managed to win it. So let’s hope it will be the identical story.”
Medvedev used final 12 months’s misfortune as motivation for his offseason, and he rapidly made amends within the early a part of 2023. Throughout a stretch of 5 tournaments from mid-February to early April, he reached 5 finals and gained 4 titles, together with on the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami.
Medvedev additionally lifted 500-level trophies in Rotterdam and Dubai throughout that interval. He would later add a second ATP Masters 1000 trophy — his first tour-level clay title — in Rome earlier than reaching the US Open last and advancing to ATP 500 finals in Beijing and Vienna.
“I’ve had a tremendous season on many ranges, however the 500s have been fairly wonderful. I obtained lots of factors and good wins towards nice gamers,” mentioned Medvedev, who earned essentially the most Pepperstone ATP Rankings factors throughout the 13 ATP 500s this season.
“I began the 12 months very strongly by profitable the primary two 500s I performed in Rotterdam and Dubai, in order that opened an enormous hole on lots of gamers and I’ve managed to complete sturdy on the finish right here in Vienna,” he added, charting his path within the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin.
Throughout his Vienna run, Medvedev mentioned this was in all probability the very best season of his profession, although he rued the shortage of a Grand Slam title to match his 2021 US Open crown. A second Nitto ATP Finals title would go a protracted method to consolidate this as a standout season for the baseliner — however he is aware of he should beat a number of nice champions to turn into the singular champion in Turin.
“You play towards the very best gamers on the planet,” he mentioned of the season finale. “In order quickly as you go to the third set, and the ending of the third set, it will be powerful for each of you, and also you each know the best way to take care of this stress.
“Final 12 months, I used to be not sturdy sufficient to handle to make it. This 12 months, I’ll attempt to be stronger.”
Medvedev tops the ATP Tour leaderboard in matches gained this season with a personal-best 64 victories in comparison with simply 16 defeats. However ought to he endure a setback towards one in all his elite foes in Turin, the outcome won’t essentially finish his possibilities on the title because of the distinctive round-robin format.
Whereas he won’t method the group stage in another way than another event — apart from the information that he’s up towards the world’s easiest from Day 1 — Medvedev is aware of he may gain advantage from that second probability in his again pocket if wanted.
“I believe what it modifications is in case you lose a match, that is if you get the second probability, which in tennis would not occur besides this event. And that is the one time,” he defined.
“However if you go into the event, the very best feeling is attempting to not lose [each] match, attempt to win each match attainable and get to the ultimate like this. However I believe we’ve got lots of tales the place somebody misplaced the primary match after which gained the entire thing. So that is what makes it this event particular.”
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