World no. 3 Daniil Medvedev is confident about his tennis ahead of the Rome Masters. The Russian scored two wins in both Monte Carlo and Rome, hoping for more in Rome after good practice sessions. Medvedev is yet to win a match at Foro Italico, playing in the Italian capital three times and failing to pass the first obstacle.
The Russian did not play in Rome last year and will use it as a nice chance to earn valuable points and close the gap to Novak Djokovic. Daniil debuted in Rome in 2018 and faced Robin Haase in the first round. The young gun claimed the opener before losing ground in the decider to hit the exit door.
A year later, Medvedev met Nick Kyrgios in the first match and experienced a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 loss in an hour and 33 minutes. The Australian dropped 18 points on serve and saved three out of four break points. Never finding the rhythm or the way to impose longer rallies, Daniil got broken once in sets he lost.
He finished the match with 31 winners and 24 unforced errors, while Kyrgios counted 41 winners and 21 errors, staying focused despite some usual tantrums at the end of the second set. The Aussie gave his best to keep the points on his racquet, de livering underarm serves (he opened the duel with one) and outplaying the Russian in the shortest points to forge the win and march into the second round.
Nick barely lost a point on serve in the opening set, breaking Daniil in game four and racing toward 6-3 with a hold in game nine.
Daniil Medvedev seeks his first victory at the Rome Masters.
Medvedev earned a break at 4-3 in the second set and was the favorite in the decider.
However, he trailed 3-0 after just a couple of minutes, with Kyrgios staying in the match and delivering that crucial break in game two. The Aussie defended two break points in game seven to remain ahead and crossed the finish line with four aces at 5-3.
Medvedev faced fellow Russian Aslan Karatsev in the opening match of his 2021 campaign, falling 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 18 minutes. Karatsev dropped 11 points behind the initial shot and delivered three breaks to seal the deal in style.
Daniil will face a tricky opponent at the start of this year’s Rome Masters, facing Ugo Humbert or Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round. “I must play with more spin and improve my sliding on clay. That has always been a problem for me.
I practiced in Madrid for a couple of days after losing, focusing on my sliding and movement. There are improvements in that area. I feel great physically. I’m embracing stronger training sessions daily, working on small details with my coach.
We have done a great job, and I will try to implement that into matches, although it’s never the same. I have trained in Rome for two days and hit well, not missing much. However, it can all change during official matches. ‘m happy with my training and looking forward to the tournament. I have never won a match in Rome, and that’s my first goal,” Daniil Medvedev said.