“I don’t know how he does it” – Djokovic never ceases to amaze, says Daniil Medvedev

Praise for Novak Djokovic, who he calls the greatest, and hope for his own chances at this year’s Wimbledon, were bubbling over in Daniil Medvedev’s pre-tournament press conference.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, talks with Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the trophy presentation after the men’s singles final at the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Chris Oddo

July 2, 2023

Take it from a man who has defeated Novak Djokovic in the final of a Grand Slam – it’s crazy what the 23-time Grand Slam champion has been able to achieve over the course of his illustrious career.

“I don’t know how does he do it,” Medvedev told the press during his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday at Wimbledon. “I think if I saw it right, Novak is almost 50 percent. I think I saw he played 70 majors, and 35 he was in the final. I don’t know how is it possible. He doesn’t have bad days? Actually, he does, like everybody. Even on these bad days, he manages to beat the opponent.

Tennis Majors

“It’s actually tough because it’s one against one. Both of them want to win. I don’t know how he’s doing it. That’s why he’s for me the greatest in the history of tennis. But this is basically, of course, debatable.”

Medvedev, who owns a 5-9 lifetime record against Djokovic, including a dramatic victory that derailed the Serbian’s bid for the calendar year Grand Slam at the last hurdle in 2021, says he still take immense pride in that victory.

“To be able to beat him when he was going for a Grand Slam, maybe he was a little bit tighter than usual, but I played an amazing match,” he said of that US Open victory. “This gives me even more pride that I was able to do it, given what he continued to do after this.”

Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev at the 2021 U.S. Open Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

“I feel like I can play well on grass”

Medvedev is in London hoping to turn around his fortunes at the Grand Slams in 2023. The ATP’s current title leader for the season, with five, has turned in a dismal-by-his-standards 2-2 record at the majors this year, falling to Sebastian Korda in the third round at the Australian Open before crashing out in the first round at Roland-Garros to upstart Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Medvedev hopes to make a better show at Wimbledon, where he has one trip to the round of 16 (in his last appearance in 2021) and an 8-4 record to show for himself.

He is 35-19 lifetime on grass with one title, and 2-2 for the season with a first-round loss to Adrian Mannarino at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and a quarter-final loss to Roberto Bautista Agut in Halle.

“I feel like I can play well on grass. Last year I made two finals in the three tournaments that I played,” Medvedev said. “Just need to find my way, find my rhythm. That’s the last tournament where I can do it.”