Defending champion Medvedev highlights fast paced courts at Turin after opening win against Hubert Hurkacz.

The season-ending ATP Finals are here and Daniil Medvedev has started his title defense by winning a thriller against Hubert Hurkaacz. It was hard work for the second seed as he needed to grind him way past the young Canadian. The match ended with a  6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 comeback win for the Russian.

After the match, Medvedev pointed out how the courts in Turin were as fast as it gets at an ATP event. However, he was pretty impressed by their fast-paced nature. The Russian also described how th fans will enjoy watching the matches with long rallies once the players get accustomed to the pace of the courts going forward.

“I definitely enjoy hardcourts, that’s the only thing I can say,” Medvedev said. “I think I prefer fast conditions, but here it’s probably the fastest I have ever faced on the ATP tour.”

“For me and Hubi it was like just who makes one good shot in the point,” Medvedev continued. “I wonder if it’s going to be the same for other guys and, yeah, sometimes during the tournament you get more used to it and that’s where you have more points and stuff.”

Medvedev will be looking to defend his ATP Finals title this season and feels that there is no added pressure on him to deliver against the best tennis stars in the world. The 25-year-old reigned supreme in London last year shared how the venue change has changed the complete vibe of the tournament.

He shared how he did not feel like the defending champion mainly because of being in a new place this year for the Nitto ATP Finals.

“I do know I won London last year,” Medvedev said. “it was still Nitto ATP Finals, but we’re in a different place, like a different hotel, different venue, everything is so different.”

He then went on to highlight how he was never good in quick short distance sprints. The defending champion will now play against German tennis star Alexander Zverev in his next group stage match. Whereas Hubert Hurkacz who lost against the Russian will look to make a comeback against Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini.