Daniil Medvedev regrets his “low IQ” sledge at a section of the Rod Laver Arena crowd at last year’s Australian Open but is eager for another shot at his nemesis Nick Kyrgios.
The Russian champion, sometimes cast as the villain, was in a playful mood on Sunday ahead of the Adelaide International, a tournament he is “happy” to be at, although his preference is to be at the United Cup.
Medvedev, his compatriots, and Belarusian peers are indefinitely barred from all country-based tennis competitions, including the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Daniil Medvedev took exception to some unruly fans at last year’s Australian Open.Credit:Eddie Jim
“I would definitely prefer to play United Cup. I liked to play in [the defunct] ATP Cup, so the United Cup seems interesting,” he said.
“We would be the only team with four players in the top 10 [men and women], so we would definitely be good favourites there, but it is what it is. I’m happy to be here in Adelaide, playing this tournament.
“I completely understand why we’re not playing Davis Cup or United Cup and team competitions, where we would represent our country.”
Kyrgios will compete in Adelaide next week if he has recovered from the ankle injury that saw him withdraw from the United Cup, but Medvedev, Novak Djokovic and other top rivals won’t be at that event.
The Australian star boasts a 4-1 record against Medvedev, including a brilliant win at last year’s US Open, with the Russian’s sole victory coming at Melbourne Park 12 months ago.
That match, too, was a superb spectacle across four competitive sets, but the dual Australian Open finalist was still bristling that night when he let fly at unruly fans in a Eurosport interview afterwards.
Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios played another quality match at last year’s US Open.Credit:AP
A year on, he was far more hospitable, saying that “everybody” loved playing in Australia and referencing his ATP Cup clash last year in Sydney with Alex de Minaur as a positive example.
“Out of the 13,000 who were there [at the Australian Open], because the stadium was packed, this comment maybe was to 50 people max, so that’s the first thing – and this comment was probably not smart from my part,” he said. “But when you go out from the match, the way it was with Nick, sometimes you say things like one-hour after, [and you think] ‘Why did I say this?’. First of all, it’s maybe not true, then it’s stupid.”
That said, Medvedev is aware of his lopsided record against Kyrgios and is itching for “revenge”.
“The three matches we played last year were great matches,” he said. “I wanted to play better; the two ones that I lost. But Nick is a great player, [with a] great serve. I don’t feel like we have, like, some crazy rivalry because he definitely has some more spiced-up rivalries with other players.
“I feel like when I play him, it’s a great match-up. I would like to play him more, to try to do better than last year, and definitely at the US Open, he was not easy to handle, so I want to try to get my revenge, if I have the chance.”
Closer on Medvedev’s horizon is a mouth-watering, potential Adelaide semi-final showdown with fellow former world No.1 Djokovic, in what would be a rematch of the 2021 Australian Open final.
Djokovic won eight of their previous 12 meetings, but both men have three opponents each to negotiate before that match-up is a reality.
“I definitely saw that I can play Novak in the semis … it doesn’t make me tight to know my draw further, but after this, of course, it’s really important to stay focused on your next match,” Medvedev said.
“I like to play Novak because I feel like our last lot of matches we had some really great matches with great level of tennis.
“At the same time, what motivates me is to be in the semis and if it’s Novak there, it’s great. If it’s somebody else who beats him, I don’t care much, that’s also great.
“It means that somebody is in great shape and managed to beat probably the best player in the world right now, not talking about rankings.”
Watch all the action from the summer of tennis, including the United Cup, live on Channel Nine, 9Gem and 9NOW.
