Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently analyzed and explained Daniil Medvedev's struggles on clay.
There are not many people that are more successful in coaching than Mouratoglou and his analysis are always very valuable. With the upcoming and already ongoing clay-court part of the ATP Tour season, the French coach talked about the current ATP Race leader, Daniil Medvedev, who isn't expected to add many points on the red dirt.
Mouratoglou believes that Medvedev's mindset is a significant contributor to his clay court woes. The Russian player has openly expressed his dislike for the surface, reinforcing the idea that he isn't well-suited for it. This mental barrier makes it nearly impossible for Medvedev to achieve greatness on clay according to the Frenchman.
"I think that Daniil Medvedev struggles that much on clay for 2 main reasons. The first one is mental. He has decided that clay is not for him, and he said it a hundred times. It's impossible to achieve something big when you think you are not good at it."
In addition to the mental hurdles, Medvedev's struggles can also be traced to his movement on clay. Clay courts require players to be firmly grounded and agile, enabling them to deliver powerful shots with precision. Medvedev's game, which heavily relies on exceptional movement, hasn't yet adapted to the nuances of the clay surface.
"And secondly, there are also technical reasons. He doesn't move well on clay. I think he can learn. Of course, for sure, he can learn. But for the moment, he doesn't feel comfortable. It's difficult to be anchored in the ground, to be able to hit the best shot possible. And if you look at his game, it's based on movement so much."
Mouratoglou also highlights the impact of ball quality on clay courts. With the ball bouncing higher and slower on clay, Medvedev's flat shots become less effective, making it easier for opponents to attack. While his forehand can still generate quality on clay, his backhand—the cornerstone of his game—suffers significantly.
"And the second thing, is this ball quality on clay when you play flat, the ball is not as low. First of all and there is not much quality and it's easier to attack. I think his forehand has quality on clay, his backhand is less and that's his major shot is backhand so that's why he is hurt."
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