Top
Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev, Roland Garros, Tennis News

‘I can play like on hard courts here’, says Daniil Medvedev after first ever French Open win


Daniil Medvedev said he is “capable of big things” and that “it doesn’t feel different than the Australian Open” after winning his first French Open match.

The world No. 2 came through a tough-looking first round encounter against Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 – having lost all four of his previous Roland Garros matches.

The 25-year-old Russian will face world No. 52 Tommy Paul in the second round.

“I feel really hopeful. You could see it today in the match, I’m feeling that here, at least this year with this weather, with these balls, I can play like on hard courts,” Medvedev said in his post-match press conference.

“It doesn’t feel different than the Australian Open for me coming into this tournament. Now, when I’m coming to these big tournaments feeling like this, I know I’m capable of doing big things.

“[At the] Australian Open I was in the final. If I lose here in Roland Garros, it’s probably going to be because my opponent will play really good. As I said, I feel very confident, I move well, slide well. So I’m feeling great.

“[It] feels great. But most important is the level of tennis. I’ve been showing, as I said before the tournament, it was not mind games.

“My opponent can see I was really feeling good. I managed to play consistent today. I actually played much better in practice than today, so there is room for improvement.

“That was one of not many matches where I was really tight. Hopefully, it can be only better for the next rounds. As I say, [I’m] really happy first of all with the win and then with my level of play also.”


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.