'Confident' Daniil Medvedev aims maiden Grand Slam title at US Open

Top-ranked Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev says he feels confident and in great spirits at the US Open despite not having the preparation for the tournament last year. 

Last year, Medvedev ended runner-up in Washington and won the Cincinnati Masters, before finishing runner-up at the US Open.

On Saturday, No. 3 seed Medvedev saw off rising American star J.J. Wolf in straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-2 to reach the US Open round-of-16.

"Yeah, I mean, comparing to last year is impossible, because last year there was a full season. Coming to US Open I had two finals and one Master title, my first Master title," Medvedev said.

"It's completely different here. We played Cincinnati tournament but in New York, in the same place. So it was, like, kind of a warmup for a slam, which of course everybody played till the end, including me, too.

"But it feels different. I played, really, three good matches. Won all of them in straight sets against not easy opponents. So really looking forward to it.

"Talking about my game, I feel confident right now, as I was feeling last year."

Medvedev not surprised he easily made the second week at the US Open 

Previously, Medvedev claimed straight set wins over Federico Delbonis and Chris O'Connell.

"Finally, I should say I'm not surprised because I was playing really good, really consistent. I managed to, let's call it like this, make my opponents miss a lot, return a lot of balls in the court, served quite good. I didn't lose a serve before this match, and even this match I managed to keep it on the high level all the match," Medvedev said.

"So if you would ask me before the tournament probably would be surprised that I would get in the second week without really having a challenge during the match, because what we can call a challenge is maybe 7-5, 7-6, but I worked for this. I tried my best to do it, and I'm happy that I managed."

Medvedev, who plays next Frances Tiafoe, is aiming to again make the US Open final and time hopefully win it all.

"Well, honestly I remember playing well there. That's the most important. I remember winning great matches. So of course it gives me some confidence, because it's still Arthur Ashe, even without the crowd, still Louis Armstrong. So I'm happy to be back here. I'm playing quite good," Medvedev recalled his 2019 US Open run.

"I'm happy to play on big courts every match that I played, and hopefully I can do the same or better than last year."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3jXweZZ