'There Is A Risk Always': Medvedev On Untraditional Approach To Australian Open

Saturday, 13 January 2024 at 17:30

byZachary Wimer

Daniil Medvedev didn't play any preparation event ahead of the 2024 Australian Open, and he's hoping it doesn't backfire, as it's not the norm for him.

Every tennis player has their own routines, which they generally stick by. They can vary between players, but we've recently seen players experiment with that. Casper Ruud did something unprecedented last year, and it backfired spectacularly.

The Norwegian missed the full off-season, and postponed it to mid-season, and it backfired. He didn't do it this year, and we've already seen him play miles better than last year.

Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner are two other players who did something they generally don't do - skip warm-up events. For the Italian, it came because of his busy December schedule, while Medvedev simply prioritized some other things. Changing a routine will always involve a risk, but he was willing to do it.

"I think everything feels like a risk, especially when you try it for the first time. I don't think I've ever played an Australian Open, which is the first slam of the year, without a warm-up tournament."

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"Usually the first match can be little bit not easy sometimes in the season. I remember last year I had a first match I played against Sonego, he cramped after one set, which was a bit surprising."

Medvedev has always prioritized tennis over other things, but now, as a father, some things simply come first. He wanted to spend time at home with his family for New Year's, so he did it.

He did play leading up to New Year's as he was part of the World Tennis League. His team actually won the competition, so he has matches, just not matches in Australia.

"There is a risk always. But as I say, otherwise I would be 35 years old and I would be like I actually never spent a New Year at home, never do this. So I decided that is a year to try. Finished late."

"Had vacation first time at the end of the season maybe in four years. If I would go here for a warm-up tournament, I would have like, as I said, two weeks of pre-season. Then you go, you go nonstop."