“Try to do less stupid things. I want to change, mature”: Daniil hoping ‘we’re going to see a new Medvedev’ in 2024
The world No 3 from Russia has decided not to play any warm-up event prior to the Australian Open this year
Daniil Medvedev at the 2023 Australian Open
Daniil Medvedev has been a favourite with the fans on many occasions. But the Russian has also antagonized fans on some others. As the 27-year-old gears up for another season on the pro tour, one which he will begin without playing any tune-up events for the Australian Open for the first time in his career, the Russian wants to mature and do less stupid things as he hopes fans will see a new Daniil Medvedev in 2024.
“I want to change. I want to mature. I feel like I’ve done a big step these last months,” the Russian told the media in Melbourne on Monday. “Hopefully people can see it on the court because that’s the toughest challenge, tournaments. When you’re on court, that’s where the adrenaline is on its highest. That’s where it’s tougher to control your emotions. That’s how I want to be. Even if something happens, I just want to kind of go with who I am, try to do less of stupid things that don’t help me as a person and tennis player. Hopefully I can achieve it this season, and we’re going to see a new Daniil Medvedev. It’s too early to say. We’ll have to see at the end of the season (smiling).”
Medvedev offered a glimpse to the press in Melbourne about some of the things he is trying to change. “When I say ‘change something’, it came like spontaneously to me that I want to take care more of important things for me, and take care much less about non-important things, which can be different things: sitting on your phone, playing PlayStation. I still sit on my phone and play PlayStation, I just try to do it less and in the time of the day where I have time for it. I’m thinking much more about my tennis, about which person I want to be, about how I’m going to feel physically. Still to this moment there would be some days where I would go to bed at 2. Next morning it’s a little bit tough, but fine. I’m trying to do this less.”
“Had vacation first time at the end of the season maybe in four years” – Medvedev
The first time fans will get to a see a glimpse of that on court in 2024 will be at the Australian Open, which kicks off on Sunday. The world no 3 has opted not to play a warm-up event prior to the first Grand Slam of the season for the first time in his career – choosing instead to having a longer off-season and spending the holidays at home with his family, which now includes his son.
“The question was always whether I want to have a very short pre-season and then a warm-up event. But I’ve always done it. It works well. I decided this year that one time I have to try to do it the other way and see how it goes. We’ll see how it goes,” Medvedev said on Friday.
“I think everything feels like a risk, especially when you try it for the first time. I don’t think I’ve ever played an Australian Open, which is the first slam of the year, without a warm-up tournament. Usually the first match can be little bit not easy sometimes in the season. I remember last year I had a first match I played against Sonego, he cramped after one set, which was a bit surprising. There is a risk always. But as I say, otherwise I would be 35 years old and I would be like I actually never spent a New Year at home, never do this. So I decided that is a year to try. Finished late. Had vacation first time at the end of the season maybe in four years.”
I think the thing I learned future is bright no matter what.
Medvedev, a runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2021 and 2022, was knocked out in the third round in 2023 – a loss that saw him drop out of the top 10. But from that loss and his struggles in the early part of the season to his resurgence later in the year, Medvedev has adopted a new motto: ‘the future is bright’.
“I think the thing I learned future is bright no matter what. I remember last year sitting in a press conference room. Was a tough feeling after the loss. I think dropping out of top 10, stuff like this. Then was probably one of the best parts of my career. So, that’s the motto: the future is bright. This year hopefully I can play better in Australian Open and go further and show some good tennis,” the former US Open champion who opens his campaign at the Australian Open against a qualifier Terence Atmane in the first round, said.
