“I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their shoes, white socks… I don’t” – Medvedev steps back on his friendship with clay

After his loss, the Russian now hopes to improve upon his past performances at Wimbledon, where he has never gone past the fourth round

Daniil Medvedev leaves the court atfer his first round loss at the 2023 French Open

Daniil Medvedev at the 2023 French Open Image Credit: AI/Reuters/Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

May 31, 2023

For as much as Daniil Medvedev dislikes clay, the Russian world No 2 admitted that he would have liked to stay longer in Paris. The second seed was knocked out in the first round of the French Open on Tuesday in a five-set upset by Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Medvedev came into Roland-Garros this year having won the ATP Rome Masters, his first title on clay, and hopes on improving upon his previous best finish – quarter-final appearance in 2021.

“It didn’t change one time that every time it finishes I’m happy. So I’m happy. I’m happy again. Doesn’t matter, one time quarters, one time fourth round, a lot of times first round,” Medvedev told the media in Paris after his loss. “Today I had because wind, dry court, I had a mouthful of clay since probably third game of the match, and I don’t like it. I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, in their shoes, the socks, white socks, you can throw them to garbage after clay season. Maybe some people like it. I don’t.”

“I am happy to have it finished. I’m going to have to have a good time off. Have to find positives. A lot of relaxing next days. Happy to go to the next challenges even if, for sure, I wanted to stay longer in Paris, even if it’s clay (smiling).”

It’s not easy to play on grass. I cannot, like I cannot even say I love it, but better than on clay.
Daniil Medvedev

Despite the surprising loss, Medvedev said he did not feel completely helpless on clay as he has in past years and hopes to improve upon his clay court success next year.

“100% (step in the right direction). And again, the match today, my opinion, I played well. You know, I was trying. Like I didn’t feel that, how to call it, like before sometimes I was feeling, wow, I really cannot do anything. Today I felt like I’m doing what I have to do, and he plays well, so let’s continue. And, well, the match was over and I didn’t manage to win it. But definitely amazing. Rome is unbelievable. I never thought I’m going win a tournament on clay. Not talking about a Masters. So have to think more about this right now than Roland Garros, unfortunately. Next year I’m going to be maybe even more motivated to try to repeat the success of this year.”

Medvedev now heads to the grass season, hoping to improve upon his best performance at Wimbledon, a fourth-round finish in 2021.

“I’m only planning to play Wimbledon (in the UK). I go to Halle, that’s a tournament I love. That’s a tournament I so far did manage to play really well last year,” the Russian added. “It’s not easy to play on grass. I cannot, like I cannot even say I love it, but better than on clay. Last year I managed to make pretty good results to final. So I’m going try to manage to do better this year in Wimbledon than the years before.”