“The only thing we’re sure is Novak Djokovic is always there” – Medvedev

The Russian says he is motivated to continue finding his limits and become a better player

Danill Medvedev and Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters Image Credit: Aurelien Morissard / Panoramic

World No 3 Daniil Medvedev says he hopes to continue being in the group of players who will pose a challenge to Novak Djokovic in 2024.

The Serb dominated the game in 2023 – winning three of the four Grand Slams and winning the ATP Finals, fending off the challenge from young rivals Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Medvedev himself. While the Russian is hoping to continue to be part of the pack chasing, he says the only thing certain is that Djokovic will be at and around the top for sure.

“For sure if we take last year and many, many different tournaments, we did separate a little bit from the rest at one point of the season and especially at the end, regarding the points,” Medvedev told The National. “But I do think that this also shows that every season can be different. Stefanos Tsitsipas made a final in Australian Open; for different reasons had a tougher end of the season, but he can come back there and pass me, Sinner or Carlos or Novak, anyone. The only thing we’re sure is Novak is always there. I could be out of 10, Novak is always there. So hopefully I can be part of this top four and whoever the other three guys and I’m going to try to do it.”

“I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits, to just go for more” – Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev, ATP Finals, 2023 — Daniil Medvedev competes at the 2023 ATP Finals Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

After dropping out of the top 10 earlier in the season, Medvedev rebounded to finish the year ranked No 3. The 27-year-old says he continues to be motivated as ever and wants to use his experience to become an even better player.

“Everyone is going to have a different motivation for different reasons. And I’ll be honest, last two years, even last year, when I had an amazing run, I felt like I was changing. It’s normal,” he said. “Getting older, you know, I’m not any more 23 and going for my first big title and I’m like, ‘OK, I want to do more’,. So at this stage of my life, at least right now, I hope this can last for a long time. I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits, to just go for more. Try to be even more professional, try to fight harder, be better on the court. Because at the end of the season, I was a little bit too much all over the place because I was mentally tired. So I’m going to try to do all of this better next year and hopefully I can become a better player”