“I don’t care if Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal are here,” Daniil Medvedev determined to claim his maiden Grandslam title at US Open 2021

“I don’t care if Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal are here,” Daniil Medvedev determined to claim his maiden Grandslam title at US Open 2021

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev stormed into the semifinals of US Open 2021, with a four-sets victory over Botic van de Zandschulp in the last eight encounter. The Russian asserted his authority in the opening two sets, which he won without much difficulty. However, the young Dutch came storming back into the match, by winning the third set, before the second seed closed out the match in the fourth set.

Daniil Medvedev has been a consistent performer at US Open over the past three years. The Russian has reached his third consecutive semifinals at the Flushing Meadows. In 2019, he managed to reach the finals, where he was defeated by Rafael Nadal, despite a valiant effort.

Daniil Medvedev stated that he does not think about facing Novak Djokovic in the finals, and instead is taking one thing at a time. “I don’t think about him, because as we saw, anybody can beat anybody. If he’s in the final, and if I’m there, I’m happy. He’s also happy, I guess. I’m not going to root or cheer for somebody. I’m just going to enjoy the tennis and then prepare for the winner. It’s the same every match,” said Medvedev.

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I just want to do my best: Daniil Medvedev

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US Open 2021 has missed the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer due to injury. Asked whether the absence of the two greats of the game has had an effect on the locker room, Medvedev stated that his aim is to win the US Open, and he dies not care if they are present or not.

“I don’t feel the change of the energy [in the locker room], again, talking for myself. I always try to do my best,” Medvedev said. “I don’t care if Roger or Rafa are here. I want to win the tournament. It’s going to be tougher if they were here, and of course it would be tougher if they would be 30 years old. But I just want to do my best, so I don’t care if they are here or not,” he added.

Daniil Medvedev was defeated in the semifinals of US Open last year by Dominic Thiem in straight sets. The Russian stated that he was not ready for the battle, and it was a great learning experience for him.

“I was kind of not ready for this match. When I say ‘not ready’, of course I prepared [for] it well. It’s just that he played a really great level and I couldn’t find a solution, which I took a lesson [from] and I tried to do better in the ATP Finals ,” Medvedev said. “Even if it was super tough, there was a lesson. There’s no Dominic here, no Rafa, so I’m just going to try to play my best and see which other lessons I can take,” he added.

Also Read: ‘Guys in the locker room are going the extra mile because there is no Roger and Rafa at the 2021 US Open,’ feels Frances Tiafoe