"I don't care if I play a friend or the guy I don't like, just want to win" - Daniil Medvedev on facing compatriot Karen Khachanov at Miami Open 2023
Daniil Medvedev feels the need to focus even more when playing against a good friend and someone he has known for many years, as he gets set to face good friend and compatriot Karen Khachanov in the 2023 Miami Open semifinals. However, on match-day, even a friend or fellow countryman is just another opponent for Medvedev as his only priority is to win.
Medvedev beat Christopher Eubanks 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to move into the semifinals in Miami, where will face 14th seed Khachanov, who beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final-four.
Looking ahead to the contest, Medvedev admitted that he needs to be more focused when playing someone like Khachanov as they both know each other's gamestyles quite well and a lot better than most others. For Medvedev, the challenge against players like Khachanov and their fellow Russian Andrey Rublev is to maintain an almost flawless shot selection more often than not.
"I think maybe just a little bit you have to kind of force yourself even more to be focused, and when I say this, it's just because they know your game so well and you know theirs so well," Daniil Medvedev said in a press conference after the match against Eubanks.
"So it's kind of I'm almost sure we know how the match is going to go tomorrow, and it's a question of who's going to make the best shot out of we're gonna play."
Having said that, the world No. 5 also showed his competitive side and stated that he does not pay much heed to whether he is facing a friend or someone he does not like, and just wants to win.
"So maybe I have to just force yourself a little bit, but at the same time, it's like any other match," Medvedev added. "You want to win. Honestly I don't care if I play a friend or the guy I don't like on the other side of the net (smiling). Just want to win. That's what competition is."
The two players last faced off at Adelaide 1 in January, which Medvedev won. It was his third win in four tour-level matches against Khachanov. Medvedev is currently one of the 'players to beat' on tour, having won 23 of his last 24 matches, as he is chasing his fourth title in five tournaments at the Miami Open this week.
"I need to try to play as good as I did there in Adelaide" - Daniil Medvedev on facing Karen Khachanov at Miami Open 2023
While there is a big challenge ahead of him in the form of his childhood friend Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev believes he will create great chances to win if he can emulate his performance from their match in Adelaide earlier this season. Medvedev recorded a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 victory in their quarterfinals clash in January.
"We played already one time this year. I need to try to, yeah, to play as good as I did there in Adelaide. I played a good match. Hopefully can show good tennis and try to win," Daniil Medvedev said on the same.
The only time Khachanov beat Medvedev in a tour-level match was back in 2018 in the semifinals of the Moscow Open as they faced off in front of home fans. Khachanov has found some good form in Miami after having struggled a bit since reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year.
The winner of the semi-final on Friday will face the winner of the second semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.