Medvedev on celebration after beating Fils: “In a way I just didn’t control it because I was so surprised that I won”
As good as the match between Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Fils was, it will be remembered primarily for the celebration. After Medvedev prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7) to earn a semi-final spot at the BNP Paribas Open, he jumped for joy while approaching the net for the handshake. It was uncharacteristic of Medvedev, who generally … Continued
© Tristan Lapierre / Tennis Majors
As good as the match between Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Fils was, it will be remembered primarily for the celebration.
After Medvedev prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7) to earn a semi-final spot at the BNP Paribas Open, he jumped for joy while approaching the net for the handshake. It was uncharacteristic of Medvedev, who generally does nothing more than stare at his box following victories.
The reason for his antics was twofold, as the world No 6 explained during his post-match press conference. First, there was the element of surprise. On Medvedev’s third match point at 8-7 in the third-set tiebreak, Fils was right on top of the net for a backhand volley that he should have handled. Instead, the Frenchman sent it long to end the match.
“If I would make a winner on match point, I would probably be less excited,” the fifth seed said. “Because I was surprised. I thought the point is over and we go again, and he missed it. It happens. I was surprised, and that got my adrenaline too much. I couldn’t control it…. I just didn’t control it because I was so surprised that I won it on this shot.”
Secondly, it was a huge win for Medvedev — especially considering that he has lost a whole host of competitive matches over the last couple of seasons. He really wanted this one to go his way…and it did.
“I lost three very tight matches this year, two of which I was really close to winning, (Learner) Tien (at the Australian Open) and (Tallon) Griekspoor (in Dubai). The more you lose matches like this, the more you lose confidence in these tight moments. If I would have lost this one, I would have felt bad.
“Today was an amazing match, amazing crowd, amazing match, tough one with the wind and everything. But I felt like (it was a) high level from both of us. (It) was just a great feeling to win it.”
