THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

B. BONZI/D. Medvedev

7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Daniil, tough day today. Tell us how you're feeling right now.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Tough, I mean, sad. But the match is over, so nothing I can do. I felt him playing very well. I felt like I didn't play too bad. So yeah, I don't see much I could do better. I mean, it's grass, so I could serve better on the tiebreaks.

But, I mean, surprised by his level. I know that he can play well. I mean, it's just after the match, so I need to see the video and be sure about what I say. I would be surprised if you find a match of him playing like this any other match this year. I'm surprised he did today. But it can happen. That's when sensations happen.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You're usually super honest in your answer. So I'm trying this question as easy as possible. Are you worried by your results in the last three slams, considering you never reach the third round?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I would be very worried if there would not be Halle tournament where I played well and I managed to be in the final, playing great level. That's why I can compare today's match to this tournament. I feel like I didn't play a match worse. Court is a bit different, tiny bit slower with the heat, also.

Yeah, I mean, every shot that I played today, even good shots, he had an answer. I was supposed to play him or Halys in Halle. I watched the match. He couldn't play two balls in a row in the court. I was surprised. Will be tough against Quentin. I played good, I won. Today, he barely missed. A little bit on the forehand. Backhand, I remember maybe three unforced errors. I wish him to play like this. I saw the draw for myself, now not anymore. If he plays like he played today, he's definitely in the fourth round. Then it's Fritz, and then it's tougher. I would not be surprised if he doesn't play like this.

Q. You've come up against good opponents who play really well. To some extent, they're playing really well because they're playing against you.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Of course.

Q. Is there anything preparation-wise that you think you need to do differently in order to be ready for that to come at you?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Not really. I had a great week of preparation because I come in in confidence after Halle. I literally won every practice set I played. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter for the match. The match is a new story.

First round, for sure many, many times you play a bit worse than maybe if I would play him, and he would be the same level as today. If it would be second or third round, maybe I could have better shots, play better.

Again, I mean, I will speak to my team later. Maybe they are going to see the video of the match to try to analyze it a bit more. But in my opinion there is not much I could do better. So it's just unfortunate.

Q. This is the hottest opening day at Wimbledon that's been recorded in the tournament's history. Did the heat play a part for you in terms of it being difficult to play?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Physically was not easy. End of third set was still there. Fourth set was not easy. To make a winner against him today, I had to make like three great shots in the corner. Yeah, I mean, especially in the fourth set when I was tired, he was just down the line, cross-court winner, why not? Return winner. Return deep.

I know this feeling. When you're on fire, everything goes in. Fourth set was the toughest set for sure.

And heat? I mean, I will never say he won because of the heat. But the heat is not easy to play. I do think if you ask him, probably he was not enjoying the heat either.

Q. You seem to have a pretty clear take on what happened today. How do you balance that clarity with the realities of your ranking dropping? How do you stay in your own head space and not panic? How do you keep your head right?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, it's not panicking. But I was really worried after 's-Hertogenbosch. It's a lot of losses in a row, different ones. Sometimes it's on clay against Casper or Lorenzo, who are playing amazing, and Casper wins a tournament after this, and Lorenzo is making semi-finals. Sometimes it is against Reilly in 's-Hertogenbosch.

But the reality is that I was losing like quarters, fourth rounds, quarters. Then I played Halle. It brings me a lot of confidence. Just play great there. Played against Michelsen. He made semis in Mallorca. Beat Sascha. Quentin can play really great on grass.

Not to worried. I'm for sure very disappointed about the fact that I lost. It's okay. Now hard courts. If I manage to play like I did in Halle, honestly even like I did today, I do feel like I can come back to top 10. It's a matter of one result, right? I played good in Halle, I'm back in top 10. Played bad here, I'm out of top 10.

I have not much points to defend till the end of the year. If I manage to play well, maybe I can be back.

Q. With the 11 a.m. start, I'm sure that wasn't your preference. How early do you have to get up for an 11 a.m. start? Would it have made a difference if you were third on today?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Maybe, I don't know. I usually play a bit worse at 11. At the same time throughout my career I won so many matches at 11 or late, and I lost some. Norrie the lost at 11 also. But Learner Tien I lost playing late.

It's not the most important. I do prefer not playing at 11, but it's okay. Today I actually felt pretty well in terms of waking up in the morning, et cetera.

How early? It's like usually around 7 or 7:30 you wake up. I prefer to wake up later. It's okay. Everyone is in the same conditions.

Q. On scheduling, does it make a difference to you here they start on the Monday rather than a Sunday start at the other slams? Does it feel like a proper start?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: No difference. I mean, usually slams were starting Monday. I would kind of say Monday's better. Like Sunday start is just to win some money for the slams. It's okay. It can also give you two days' rest if you win.

It's not much difference. Sunday or Monday, it's pretty much the same.

Q. Obviously, Benjamin played incredible today. Did you feel more vulnerable than in the past?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I'm not sure. As I say, in a way, I would definitely answer yes to your question. If there would not be this Halle tournament where I just managed to play great, win everyone in two sets, except Sascha, which was a tough match. Then played Bublik who is an absolute fire.

Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't know. At the same time, I did lose to, if I remember, (indiscernible). Who else? Some other matches. Then I managed to make semifinals in Wimbledon, final in US Open.

Just need to try to play better against such opponents. Today again, I don't feel, like coming on the court, almost from the first point, I felt whatever I did, the ball was not really sliding too much through the grass. Whatever I did on the court, it was not bothering him too much. Everything he did was tough for me to play. I fought. I tried. I was in the tiebreaks. For sure the tiebreaks, I could have played better.

I don't know. The result is there. So just need to try to play better against peaking opponents on hard courts.

Q. In your opinion, what is missing from your game compared to previous years, or is just a matter of confidence for you?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: For me it's a matter of confidence. Again, I come back to this Halle tournament. If it would not be there, I would be here and say, Look, something is definitely missing.

But no, just a matter of couple of matches, win matches. I feel like this year I lost a lot of close calls. When I start winning them, I can grab up the rankings and everything.

For the moment, I'm not that worried. If I finish the year somewhere around 15 in the world, maybe I will be more worried. For the moment, I am not.