Russia’s Daniil Medvedev is never considered a favorite in clay-court events as he has a terrible record at the surface and when the 27-year-old entered the Italian Open, not many betted on him.
However, he had shown positive signs as he had made it to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and the round of 16 of the Madrid Open.
But at the end of the Italian Open, Medvedev was the last man standing. The Russian won his maiden clay title and his sixth ATP 1000 Masters crown after beating Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5 in the final. In fact, Medvedev lost a solitary set en route to glory in Rome.
The Russian revealed he was growing in confidence in the practice and had the belief that he could go all the way in the Italian Open to prove his critics wrong. Medvedev said he wants to win the biggest tournaments in the world and play consistently.
Meanwhile, the Russian broke the youngster’s serve in the 12th game of the opening set to put himself in front. However, the Danish player broke Medvedev’s serve in the opening game of the second set but the latter bounced back to get his break back in the fourth game.
“I always want to believe in myself and I always want to win the biggest tournaments in the world,” said Medvedev, who dropped just one set en route to the title.
“But at the same time, I didn’t think I could win a Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it, I hated playing on it. I didn’t feel good on it and nothing was working.
“Before this tournament already in Madrid and Monte-Carlo I wasn’t feeling too bad. I thought, ‘OK, let’s continue’. Then when I came here I felt so good in practice and I told my coach, ‘I don’t know what is happening but I am feeling amazing, so let’s see how it goes’. But then you have to play the toughest opponents in the world to try to make it. I am really happy I managed to do it and to prove to myself and everyone else that I am capable of doing it.”
Daniil Medvedev will take part in the upcoming French Open, which will begin on May 28.
