I’m scared to play Rafa – Daniil Medvedev suggests playing Spaniard on clay is the worse and best challenge on tour

Daniil Medvedev has admitted that he is scared to play Rafael Nadal on clay. Nadal has a meticulous record while playing on clay and he is well known as the king of clay. The Spaniard has a 464-43 record on clay and he has won a total of 14 Roland Garros titles in his glittering career.

On the other hand, Medvedev is not known for his game on clay and he has a more potent game on hard courts. The Russian admitted that it is always a nightmare to play Nadal on clay.

Medvedev, who has been in fine form in the recent past, feels beating Nadal on clay is more difficult than beating Novak Djokovic on hard courts. Nadal has a 5-1 ATP H2H record against Medvedev, with all matches being played on Indoor and Outdoor hardcourts.

“I didn’t play Rafa on clay,” Daniil Medvedev said while speaking to the media after his win over Nakashima in the first round of Indian Wells. “Rafa on clay is probably the worst and best challenge in tennis. When I say worst, it’s because he lost, what, I don’t know, 10 matches? I’m not even sure he lost 10. I mean, last years he was losing a little bit more in tournaments like Rome and Monte-Carlo.”

“But, yeah, I will be honest, I’m scared to play Rafa on clay. In a way I want to try it, and for sure I will fight to win, but that must be scary to go out against Rafa on clay.”

Medvedev also admitted that it is difficult to beat Novak Djokovic on hardcourts in Australia. The Russian recently bested the Serbian in straight sets in the semifinal of the Dubai Duty-Free Championships.

“Novak I managed to beat him few times. But again, that’s two guys who have 22 Grand Slams. Yeah, I would say, you know what? Novak in Australia is tough. I had few, I would say, I lost probably four times against him, four or five there.”

“Didn’t win once even though some of them were close battles, especially ATP Cup or the first time I played him in the Australian Open.”

“But thinking back of these matches, I don’t know why there he plays, in my opinion, better than on other continents or courts. But, that’s tough, same like Rafa on clay, he barely loses there. Yeah, tough challenges, and I hope I can do it one day in my career,” Daniil Medvedev added.

Medvedev will face Ilya Ivashka in the Round of 32 in the BNP Paribas Open.