"I feel really sorry for him" - Daniil Medvedev on denying Novak Djokovic Calendar Grand Slam at US Open 2021
Daniil Medvedev recently stated that he was disappointed to have denied Novak Djokovic a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2021.
Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2021, and looked all set to make a clean sweep at the US Open. He made a deep run in the tournament and found himself on the verge of lifting the trophy as he set up a summit clash against Medvedev.
However, it was the Russian who stepped up in the final and clinched the title. Medvedev thoroughly dominated the encounter and wrapped up proceedings in straight sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-4).
Reflecting on the win that denied Djokovic a calendar-year Grand Slam, Medvedev conveyed in a recent interview that he sympathized with the Serb and that he would like him to accomplish the feat sometime in the future.
"I have my name a little bit in the history, I didn’t let him win the calendar-year Grand Slam and I feel really sorry for him because I would, in a way, like him to do it," he said in a conversation with Eurosport.
Medvedev also stated, however, that he suppresses his emotional side whenever he steps on the court and just focuses on being competitive.
“But every time I play him I want to win, I’m competitive, I don’t care who I have on the other side of the net, if it’s my best friend, if it’s my worst enemy, I just want to win,” added the Russian.
"He was so kind to me since I was a kid, since I first met him" - Daniil Medvedev on Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev also expressed his admiration for Novak Djokovic in a separate answer, stating that the Serb had always been "so kind" to him.
Medvedev commended the 22-time Grand Slam for treating every player on tour the same way regardless of their rankings.
“I like many things about Novak, he was so kind to me since I was a kid, since I first met him when I was 480 in the world. He was always the same, no matter if I’m No. 1 in the world or No. 480 and I give him a lot of respect for this," Medvedev said.
The Russian locked horns with Djokovic in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday (March 4). He emerged victorious in straight sets to book his place in the final, where he will face compatriot Andrey Rublev.