Exclusive: Daniil Medvedev reveals what keeps him motivated
Daniil Medvedev has nearly spent 10 years on the main ATP Tour, and the former US Open champion told us just how he has remained motivated to continue competing at the top level over this time.
Daniil Medvedev recently confirmed his qualification for the year-end ATP Finals in Turin, making this the sixth consecutive season that he has done so.
This got us thinking about how Medvedev manages to maintain his motivation, with the current World No.5 suggesting that it is associated with his hatred of losing.
“Yeah, it’s actually a very good question, because sometimes it’s not easy, you know, like every other profession in the world, it happens that you wake up, and you feel worse this day, and even a little bit like I don’t want to go to practice, or something like this,” Medvedev exclusively told Tennishead.
“But me. I always believe that, you know, whenever once you say it, and you actually do it. Let’s say you wake up, and you don’t go for practice where we can. We can do whatever we want. It’s an individual sport.”
He added, “Other guys are gonna practice, and they’re gonna get better than you and I hate when someone gets better than me. I love winning, I hate losing. I love competition, I want to improve, and that’s what motivates me, this hatred to lose, willing to win and willing to to improve, to try to get, you know, bigger titles, bigger wins and that’s why every day, every day. Well, there are some days where we we discuss with the team, and we take some days off some days with the family, etc. But when I need to practice. I go for it.”
Medvedev went onto reveal that he has played tennis since the age of six, explaining the difference in how he views the sport then compared to now as a professional.
“It’s because tennis is a sport I love. I played it since I was six years old, and when I started playing when I was six. It was even less about competition,” said Medvedev. “It was more about. Well, I have the racket, and I have the ball. It’s fun, you know.”
“Now, for sure, it’s more about something that I’ve done all my life, something that I became good at. And I just you know, it’s my job, I continue doing it.”
Although Medvedev may be removed from the child that once played tennis as a hobby, he has recently fulfilled a childhood dream after playing as himself in the latest tennis video game, TopSpin 2K25.
“When it’s you, Daniil Medvedev, in the game and looking exactly the same. And I play sometimes with myself playing against someone. And you’re like, Wow!” exclaimed Medvedev. “That feels strange. And that’s surprising.
“That’s that’s honestly, yeah, that’s something I was probably dreaming of when I was young. So dreams come true.”
TopSpin2K25, a revival of the beloved tennis simulation video game series developed by Hangar 13, is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. Featuring competitive single-player and multiplayer modes, all four historic Grand Slam Tournaments, 25 playable pros, and much more, TopSpin 2K25 is sure to satisfy seasoned tennis aficionados and newcomers to the virtual court alike.
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