Daniil Medvedev’s Rotterdam reflection: ‘The fire still burns in me but it is different’ | ATP Tour

Medvedev’s reflection: ‘The fire still burns in me, but it is a different fire’

The 28-year-old speaks to ATPTour.com in Rotterdam ahead of the ATP 500 event

February 02, 2025

Daniil Medvedev has become accustomed to making history throughout his career, winning a major title at the US Open and becoming the 27th player to rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

However, Medvedev needs a bounce back this week at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he competes as the second seed.

Medvedev suffered a disappointing second-round defeat to #NextGenATP American Learner Tien at the Australian Open in January, a result which raised further question marks around the 28-year-old’s form after he last year failed to win a tour-level title in a season for the first time since 2017.

Speaking to ATPTour.com in Rotterdam, Medvedev assessed concerns and gave a balanced reflection on his current form.

“It was a tough result in Australia,” said Medvedev, a three-time Australian Open finalist. “In a way, it was a good match, but a tough result. I am just trying to look forward and bounce back, that is the only way. I have to try to gain some confidence to win some matches.

“I am trying to get my game more competitive. It is not easy but I am working on a lot of things but I think my confidence is the most important. Confidence and the work you put in show in the most important moments of matches, and you try and put the reps in to have that belief in your body.

“I am working on lots of areas. Let’s take volleys. I am not the best at the net on Tour but I am capable sometimes of making some amazing volleys in important moments. One against Learner in Australia. You work every day on aspects of your game and sometimes they work in matches and sometimes not. I feel I am in a good position. I had a very good pre-season and a great week before the Australian Open. I remain calm.”

Medvedev has been a constant figure inside the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings since 2019, while he has accumulated tour-level titles at a consistent rate. His 20 trophies include the US Open, six ATP Masters 1000 titles and a Nitto ATP Finals crown.

But the demands of the Tour are relentless, with new talent emerging at a constant rate. To stay at the top, the competitive juices need to keep flowing, which is something Medvedev is fully aware of.

“When you are 20 years old and you first come onto Tour, you have a lot of fire and you just go for it. You are fearless. When you are 28, nearly 29, it is a bit different,” Medvedev said. “The fire still burns in me but it is a different fire. You need to try to keep the fire as the margins are so small, and I have it. When you lose early you just need to look forward because there is more coming.”

Medvedev was one of two Top 10 players who lost to #NextGenATP stars in Melbourne, with the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Joao Fonseca upsetting Andrey Rublev.

Five of the eight 2024 Jeddah competitors reached at least the second round at the AO, with Tien and Michelsen enjoying fourth-round runs. Medvedev, known for his analytical approach to tennis, weighed in on the landscape of the ATP Tour with the rise of the next generation of talent.

“I think it is normal to have a new generation coming,” said Medvedev, who in 2017 competed in the first edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. “I think every generation probably had this. Young guys coming and beating Top 10 players at majors. Learner played a great match and was able to win the next one even when we finished at 3 in the morning. So that showed he was ready for it and a good sign.

“But with this new generation, there are a lot of good young guys. Some generations have more players coming through like this than others, but there are always great players coming. Let’s see what they are able to do over the coming period, that is tough. But for sure they have a very strong generation.”

Medvedev may be pleased to see the back of the youngsters in Rotterdam, where he will open against the oldest player in the draw: 39-year-old Stan Wawrinka.

Medvedev, who joins Top 10 talent Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur and Rublev in a stacked Rotterdam draw, is level at 2-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Swiss wild card Wawrinka.

Wawrinka has won their previous two encounters but this is the pair’s first clash since 2022. Aiming for a fast start inside the 16,000 seater Ahoy Arena, Medvedev will hope his off-court work shows on court as he tries to become a champion in Rotterdam for the second time (2023).

“I am confident I can find my level and play my best in Rotterdam,” Medvedev said. “When you have an amazing week and results and then you lose the next tournament early, you feel your good result is forgotten. That is tennis. It works both ways, when you have a bad result people focus on that until you play well again. I hope I can play well here this week at an event I have had success at.”

Medvedev will be joined by coach Gilles Cervara in Rotterdam but Gilles Simon won’t be in the box, with Medvedev recently parting ways with the Frenchman.