Successive triumphs at the Paris Masters and ATP Finals last year have convinced Daniil Medvedev that he is one of the world’s best, the Russian said on Friday as he prepared to defend his title in the season finale.
The 25-year-old used the platform for a great year 2021, in which he made his breakthrough on the biggest stage and won a first major at the US Open, where he defeated the top-placed Novak Djokovic in the final, for a rare for the Serb Calendar to refuse Grand Slam.
World number two Medvedev lost in the Paris Masters title fight against Djokovic last Sunday and will try to continue their fascinating rivalry at the ATP finals in Turin.
“When I came to Paris last year, I felt completely out of shape and without confidence,” Medvedev told reporters. “I wasn’t sure what I could achieve in the last two tournaments and then I found my confidence, won both of them. In the ATP final I beat Novak, Rafa Nadal and Dominic Thiem.
“Three tough games so it was amazing … After you did it, you’re back … I had problems with my body so it wasn’t easy to come back.
“There was this ‘down-moment’ when I wasn’t sure of myself and those two tournaments brought my confidence back … made me sure that I could beat the best players in the world. You have to.” know to be one of them. ”
Medvedev will open the singles on Sunday against the Polish debutant Hubert Hurkacz and meet the German Alexander Zverev and Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the red group.
The 25-year-old used the platform for a great year 2021, in which he made his breakthrough on the biggest stage and won a first major at the US Open, where he defeated the top-placed Novak Djokovic in the final, for a rare for the Serb Calendar to refuse Grand Slam.
World number two Medvedev lost in the Paris Masters title fight against Djokovic last Sunday and will try to continue their fascinating rivalry at the ATP finals in Turin.
“When I came to Paris last year, I felt completely out of shape and without confidence,” Medvedev told reporters. “I wasn’t sure what I could achieve in the last two tournaments and then I found my confidence, won both of them. In the ATP final I beat Novak, Rafa Nadal and Dominic Thiem.
“Three tough games so it was amazing … After you did it, you’re back … I had problems with my body so it wasn’t easy to come back.
“There was this ‘down-moment’ when I wasn’t sure of myself and those two tournaments brought my confidence back … made me sure that I could beat the best players in the world. You have to.” know to be one of them. ”
Medvedev will open the singles on Sunday against the Polish debutant Hubert Hurkacz and meet the German Alexander Zverev and Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the red group.
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