It was a tough day at the Paris Rolex Masters for Daniil Medvedev, who fell to Australian up-and-comer Alexei Popyrin in a surprising early-round exit. Popyrin, one of the season’s breakout players, managed to outplay the world-class Russian, leaving Medvedev to reflect on his unusual inability to win the same tournament back-to-back, a quirky trend he addressed humorously in his post-match press conference.
Medvedev, known for his dry wit, joked about his repeated difficulty in winning consecutive tournaments. “I think it’s fun. I try to win every tournament, and in my career, I’ve had several chances to win the same one twice in a row. In Vienna against Sinner, I came close,” Medvedev said. “But honestly, I have no pressure, and in fact, it’s a nice statistic. Let’s say I’ll play until I’m 50 to win where I’ve already won.”
Medvedev also downplayed questions about court conditions, a topic that’s stirred controversy in the past, especially after his comments on the slow courts at Indian Wells. While the Russian generally adapts well to different surfaces, he acknowledged that some courts require longer adjustments, saying, “When the court is faster, we perceive it and need more time to adapt.” This playful yet candid answer reflects Medvedev’s relaxed approach despite the pressures of the tour.
Eyes on the ATP Finals
Despite his Paris disappointment, Medvedev remains one of the world’s top players heading into the ATP Finals in Turin. This season, he has repeatedly reached the latter stages of major tournaments, often falling only to top competitors like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz. Notably, he battled Sinner at the Australian Open, where he initially led by two sets before the Italian mounted a stunning comeback.
As Medvedev prepares for the ATP Finals, he’s eager to shake off the Paris loss and take his shot at the year-end title, aiming to reclaim momentum and end the season on a high. In Turin, he’ll once again face the world’s best, and fans know that when Medvedev is at his peak, he’s a formidable presence on any court.
