Medvedev: “I’m trying to be a little more unpredictable”

The Russian knows he can beat almost everyone standing far back to return, but says he finds it hard to force himself to move forward during matches

Daniil Medvedev in Monte-Carlo in 2023 (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)

Simon Cambers

April 8, 2024

Daniil Medvedev was all smiles as he greeted the press at the Monte-Carlo Masters on Monday morning, happy with his practice sessions on a surface that once caused him to spit feathers.

A good clay-court season in 2023 helped to change his philosophy on the dirt, no longer “hating” a surface that offers up bad bounces every now and again, the enemy of all good baseliners.

Medvedev has been in good form so far in 2024, reaching the final at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells. And even though losing Grand Slam finals hurts, badly, Medvedev continues to work on his game, looking for that extra something that will help him to win more slams.

Daniil Medvedev playing in a rare Doubles event this week in Monte Carlo playing with Roman Safiullin… Perhaps some potential Olympic prep #ATP #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/N78nahBYkF
— John Horn (@SportsHorn) April 7, 2024

Medvedev: “I’m a bit scared to tell myself to go forward”

The Russian’s return position has been the subject of much discussion and on Monday, Medvedev explained how he’s trying to change things up, a little. His problem (if it is a problem) is that he is so good when returning from so deep that when he changes to a more attacking return position, he is taking a risk, even if he knows that maybe, just maybe, that’s the way to get the better of the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, his biggest rivals.

“Five years ago, I was changing my (return) position (regularly), whereas now I’m a bit more conservative about being back because I can win so many matches and so many tournaments being there,” he told reporters in Monte-Carlo.

“And then I get a bit scared to say to myself at one moment in the match, do I go forward. And then if I lose a match, I’m going to be in the locker room, like, should have stayed back. It’s something I’m trying also to change this year, to be a little more unpredictable and try to work more the position in front which I can play, which maybe sometimes I’m not as good as from the back.

“On clay, it’s a bit more important because guys serve more differently, the serve takes more spin on the bounce, or sometimes like court, for example, here in Monte-Carlo, it’s not too big, so you cannot be really like far, far back.

“And some guys, if they kick (their serve) well, you have to be in front. So for sure, something that on clay. I’m going to try to see how it is and what’s the best solution. Hopefully you can see me more forward and playing good. Because if you see me more forward, playing bad, then I’m going to come back.”

No longer a hater of clay

Last year, a run to the quarter-finals kick-started Medvedev’s best ever clay-court season. He won his first Masters 1000 title on the surface, in Rome, but was upset in the first round at Roland-Garros.

That loss in Paris means there is room to pick up points in this clay-court season and the 28-year-old will begin his Monte-Carlo campaign – against either Gael Monfils or Jordan Thompson – in good heart.

“Like, two, three years ago it was always the same before the clay (season), like, OK, let’s go, motivation, excited and then I come on clay and then I’m like a little depressed for a couple of days and then I tried to to handle this,” he said.

“Now this year, it’s just like, OK, it’s a change of surface; for sure you need to adapt your game and adapt your mentality some shots. But I’m trying to do my best and looking forward to the tournament.

“So so far, it’s been very, like, calm and good work process? So I’m looking forward. In the match everything can change to the good or to the bad, so let’s see how it goes.”