“If he continues like this, he’s going to be top-15, top-10 player” – Medvedev on Kyrgios

The Russian says it was unfortunate for him to play Kyrgios, one of the hottest players on the tour right now. so early in the draw

Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios at the 2022 National Bank Open in Montreal Image Credit: Icon SMI / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

August 11, 2022

Nick Kyrgios has won 14 of his last 15 matches on the tour. That’s leaving aside his two consecutive doubles titles. The Australian would already be ranked among the top 15 players in the world if points were awarded for his runner-up finish at Wimbledon.

But Daniil Medvedev, the reigning world No 1 who was defeated by Kyrgios in the second round of the National Bank Open in Montreal on Wednesday, believes the Australian is headed for the top 10 or top 15 if he continues to play at his current level.

Medvedev : Kyrgios won fair and square

“If he continues like this, he’s going to be top-15, top-10 player. He’s going to be seeded. He played very well. The only thing that was a shame for me is that I played him so early because he is fit. He is among the top 10 or 15 players, so he will soon be a seeded player. It’s a shame to have such a player as an opponent in the first round.”

Medvedev, who said he missed some shots at important junctures in the match, admitted that Kyrgios beat him fair and square.

I want to try to show my best tennis in next tournaments, try to do better than here.
Medvedev

“For me today the biggest difference was that I missed in some important moments some shots. I didn’t miss much, but missed just a few where I think it could be different maybe in the later stage of a tournament. That’s a pity. At the same time, well, it’s like this.”

“It’s just a pity. I think it could be different in the other stages of the tournament. That’s what made me just a little bit not good enough today to win. He was great. He was playing good. He beat me fairly, if we can say like this.”

Daniil Medvedev at the 2022 Miami Open Image Credit: AI/ Reuters/ Panoramic

Medvedev won the Canadian Open Masters last year but with his early loss this week, he will now head to Cincinnati, his final tune-up event prior to the US Open, where he won his first Grand Slam title last year. The Russian says he hopes to be in better form by the time Cincinnati starts.

Medvedev : “Not the toughest moment”

“For sure next two, three days going to be not easy coming back to practice knowing that everybody is still playing in Montreal, fighting for a 1,000 points, for a Masters winner title. It’s not easy. At the same time I had a lot of tough moments in my career. This is definitely not the toughest. I’m going to try to prepare well Cincinnati same even today. I love playing with these balls, on these courts, these fast courts. This not going to change.”

“I hope to play well in Cincinnati. I hope to play well in US Open. When I say ‘well’, it’s to try to be the winner. But there are a lot of guys like, guys like Nick, like Carlos, who lost today, but can win Cincinnati, US Open. Stefanos. Maybe Sascha is coming back for US Open. Rafa, Novak, we don’t know what’s happening. A lot of good guys. I want to show my best tennis, which today I was close but I didn’t show my best. I want to try to show my best tennis in next tournaments, try to do better than here.”