“I learned it from Roger Federer in a way" - Daniil Medvedev on hitting the right balance between aggressiveness and charisma
Daniil Medvedev has thanked none other than Roger Federer for teaching him how to switch between two extreme mentalitites on and off the court.
Medvedev has always been viewed by fans as a player with a lot of charisma. He can often be seen joking with an opponent or chattering with the crowd during his matches. But as soon as the action gets underway, the Russian is quick to change his focus and turn his aggressive mode on.
In a recent conversation with Eurosport, Medvedev stated that it was in fact Roger Federer from whom he picked up the knack of how to shift between different mindsets. He claimed that Federer is always "so chill" in the locker room but when he hits the court, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is all business, sometimes even appearing angry.
“I learned it a little bit from Roger [Federer] in a way, because he’s so chill in the locker room, so funny, smiling, and then you play a match against him, you hit kind of a great shot, and it’s Roger, you saw him on TV, he’s your idol, and you kind of try to smile at him or something, and you see, it seems like he’s angry at you," the Russian stated.
"I remember when playing him. And that’s actually how you should be and that’s how I try to be in the matches," he added.
Medvedev also admitted that he approached games casually during the initial days of his career. That's something, the Russian claimed, he has been consciously trying to alter ever since he started taking the sport seriously.
“When I was younger, I think I was more kind of, yeah, let’s have some fun," Medvedev said. "But since I started taking tennis more seriously, now during the match I just want to win, I want to stay focused."
Daniil Medvedev paid rich tribute to Roger Federer on his retirement
Daniil Medvedev has always been an ardent fan of Roger Federer. On the occasion of Federer's retirement at the 2022 Laver Cup, the Russian was quick to mark his respect as he commended the 20-time Grand Slam champion for an "amazing career."
Taking to social media after Federer's last match of his career, Medvedev reflected on the 41-year-old's achievements and wished him luck in his next chapter.
"Tough to imagine tennis without this legend. What an amazing career! When you really look into the stats, the numbers, the titles….it’s like accomplishing the impossible. Good luck with your next chapter Roger," he wrote in his tweet.
Tough to imagine tennis without this legend. What an amazing career! When you really look into the stats, the numbers, the titles….it’s like accomplishing the impossible. Good luck with your next chapter Roger. https://t.co/q9K6zkmeDV
Daniil Medvedev faced Roger Federer on three occasions on tour, but ended up on the losing side every single time.