EXCLUSIVE: Daniil Medvedev wants to feel the love in 2024

Australian Open third seed Daniil Medvedev had a relatively easy first round match against Frenchman Terence Atmane.

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Atmane won the first 7-5, but Medvedev won the next two sets easily 6-2, 6-4 and was leading the fourth set 1-0, when Atmane was forced to retire with severe cramping.

Medvedev was in an upbeat mood during the press conference after the match.

He was satisfied with the performance he put in after having no warm-up matches before coming to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the year.

“So, I’m happy that I managed to be stronger physically because it was not easy at one moment. At this moment he started cramping.

“I was, like, okay, it’s not easy for him also. Just have to stay in there and happy to go through.”

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According to The South African website’s Dave Marshall, Daniil Medvedev was asked whether he’s able to put on a brave face if he finds the going tough.

“Yeah, I think you always try to show as less as possible to your opponent. Then sometimes it happens that you show it either because you are tired and you can’t handle it anymore or something like this or because you had too much frustration.

“I always try not to show too much to my opponent, and to be honest, I think usually I succeed.”

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Daniil Medvedev was in a jovial mood and liked a question about Grand Slams where he likes the crowds the best and those where he likes the crowds the least.

“I think the thing is that I had my worst moments with every crowd, and I had my best moments with every crowd on every Grand Slam.

“So, I would not pick one for the worst and not pick one for the best. I think my relationship with US Open is, like, amazing, but I would not want to put any other down.

“This year I’m going to try to have a different mentality on all this, like games with the crowd, in the way that on court some things can happen, but try to love everyone and hopefully everyone can feel the same.

“I think I try right now very important to feel good with myself, and like this I can feel good with everybody else. That’s what I try to do. Let’s see if I manage to do it.”  

Dave Marshall is covering the 2024 Australian Open live from Melbourne exclusively for The South African website

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