Australian Open 2021: Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev shrug off pressure before finals

Daniil Medvedev basked in his semi-final victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and was asked a generic question about the key to his Australian Open 2021 final against Novak Djokovic.

“First of all, I like that I don’t have a lot of pressure because he never lost in eight times that he was here in the final,” he said, chuckling mischievously.

“It’s him who had all the pressure getting to Roger [Federer] or Rafa [Nadal] in the grand slam [count]. He has more experience but more things to lose than me,” he added.

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He is at least correct that his opponent is the favourite. Djokovic’s supremacy in Melbourne is probably still underrated. He has spent the past two weeks talking about his love affair with this tournament and Rod Laver Arena, where he is undefeated in finals.

Djokovic will be bidding to win his ninth Australian Open title, which would break the tie with Federer at Wimbledon as the second-most titles at a men’s grand slam tournament, behind Nadal’s 13 French Opens.

It will not be easy. Although Djokovic leads the head-to-head 4-3, Medvedev has won three of their past four matches, all at ATP events in the best of three sets. Their last encounter at the ATP Finals in November was particularly illuminating as Medvedev exposed a trend in Djokovic’s game.

Novak Djokovic’s remarks on the ‘Next Generation’

“Pressure is always there,” he said. “It’s part of what we do. There’s been a lot of talk about the new generations coming and taking over the three of us, but realistically that isn’t happening still.”

“We can talk about it all day if you want but with all my respect about the other guys, they still have a lot of work to do. I’m not going to stand here and hand it over to them. I’m going to make them work their ass off for it.”

Djokovic has been asked about younger players countless times over the past four years and it is difficult to remember an answer as brutally honest as that. He is correct the younger players, who have received far more hype and media than he or his generation ever did as teenagers, have still not broken through. At 25, Medvedev is not particularly young.

However, his change of tone probably also reflects the improvements players such as Medvedev and Tsitsipas have made. The Russian is now a clear contender. He arrives in the final on a 20-match winning streak and a win would send him to a career-high ranking of No 2, breaking the big four’s stranglehold over the top two since 2005.

This is no time for faint praise and needless compliments. Only for both men to step on to the court with their best foot forward.

Also Read: He likes to see Novak Djokovic frustrated: 7-time Grand Slam Champion speaks up on Daniil Medvedev