Daniil Medvedev will be participating in his first ATP Finals already underway at the 02 Arena in London. Together, with Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas, they are the only debutants in this year’s season-ending tournament.
The Russian’s first match will be against Tsitsipas. Despite being his opening match at the ATP Finals, Daniil will be hoping to upset the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in subsequent games.
The 23-year-old was drawn in the Andre Agassi group alongside Rafa, Tsitsipas, and defending champion Alexander Zverev. Progressing through this group will boost his chances of playing against Roger Federer, who is in the Bjorn Borg Group with Matteo Berrettini, Novak Djokovic, and Dominic Thiem.
Marat Safin explains what separates Daniil Medvedev from Nadal and Federer
The Russian has never won playing against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has faced the Swiss three times and lost on all occasions. Besides, he has played against the Spaniard twice and lost on all the two encounters.
However, Marat Safin, former world number still believes, the current world number four, can beat the Swiss and Nadal. He is convinced that if Medvedev improves, he might beat the two great tennis players.
“Well, he needs to grow up, he needs to have more experience to be able to beat Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer in the finals. Otherwise, it’s difficult. It’s difficult to compete when they have a lack of experience because these matches are decided on just one or two shots,” he said before Medvedev participating in the 2019 Paris Masters.
Why beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is important to Medvedev
So far, so good for the world No.4, his 2019 tennis season has just been fantastic. He is leading the ATP Tour with 59 wins and boosts of having reached nine finals. Besides, he only needs to win one title to tie with the Serbian and Dominic Thiem, who have won five ATP Tour titles each.
Now participating in the ATP Finals in London, Medvedev will be hoping to get his first-ever win against world number Rafael Nadal and current world number three Roger Federer. Beating the two means, he becomes the second Russian after Nikolay Davydenko, who ten years ago beat the two great tennis players and Juan Martin del Potro hence winning the first ATP Finals in London. Daniil will be hoping to replicate his fellow Russian’s feat as he participates in the 2019 season-ending showpiece.
“I think all of us young Russian Players saw this title. It was amazing; he’s the only Russian to win it. It feels really good, I think for the country, to be back here, to represent my country, and hopefully I can just show some good tennis and win some matches,” he said.
Daniil Medvedev’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.4 (career-high), the Russian played his last match on the 29th of October when he surrendered to Jeremy Chardy 4-6 6-2 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris.
This year Daniil has a 58-18 win-loss record. Daniil has won 4 titles in 2019 in Sofia, in Cincinnati, in St. Petersburg and in Shanghai. Daniil was the finalist in Brisbane, in Barcelona, in Washington, in Montreal and at the U.S. Open.
Daniil Medvedev and Marat Safin |
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