BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 7, 2026

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/F. Tiafoe

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Daniil, it seemed like a very quick match today, but obviously Frances is never an easy opponent. Just take us through what you think really worked today for you.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, Frances is a very tough opponent. Was a top-10 player and can play good any moment. Any ranking he has, he can make a tough fight to a top player.

So I'm happy with the way I served. I think I put a lot of pressure on my serve on him, and then I always put some returns in play. So it's a tiny bit of extra pressure on his serve when I'm serving that well. I managed to use it. Played great, happy, and looking forward.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats. You mentioned on court you felt like you served better today than opening round. How are you finding your level through the first two games?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I think first round I served actually pretty well, as well. I just had one sloppy game on the serve itself, and one more I lost where I actually served well, I didn't play good enough from the baseline. But it's okay. I'm really happy with the way I played the two matches, kind of continuing what I started doing in the end of the last year already playing better and better. But these two matches I think were even better (smiling), and I'm happy, you know, that some things I worked in the preseason seemed to work here. But again, this is just a start, just a small step, and looking forward.

Q. Your daughter's birthday today?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yesterday.

Q. Yesterday. Obviously because of her birth last year you delayed start, as well. Can you speak a bit the benefit of getting some more reps under your belt on Australian soil before the AO and how that prep has been different?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I will be honest, we wanted to go, the full family, and so that's why I kind of signed up for Brisbane. And whenever I sign up for tournaments, I try to stick to the plan unless something happens more like with my health.

Then we were like, okay, it's too tough. So if I knew from the beginning they are not coming, I would think a little bit if I'm coming here or maybe to the Australian Open straight. But since I signed up, I stick to the plan, and happy to be here. I kind of stay in the present moment, because you cannot change your past decisions, so I'm happy to be here.

Of course was a bit disappointing not to be there with her on her first birthday. I will have many more to come, and let's see how next year's, if we celebrate here or if I stay there. You never know.

Q. I know you have spoken about your great relationship with your new coach, that you get on well. How is your game gone to another level? Like you said, you served today really well. Your opponent didn't even get a breakpoint. How has he helped you with your game, do you think? Where has that gone to another level?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, actually we talk a lot about Thomas, but I do work with Thomas and Rohan, as well, Rohan Goetzke, who is actually Australian. So he will be in Melbourne.

And even if Rohan spends much less time with me, kind of puts the same input as Thomas, because they do work together almost on a daily basis even if Rohan is many times far away.

And, for example, during the preseason, we spent two weeks together, two great weeks. Of course, as I said, we work on everything, forehand, backhand, but we try to maybe put a bit more attention to the serve and the volley. Has been working well these first two matches. Of course I'm never going to be someone who goes to the net 30 times per match, but if I can make it 8 where before was 6 and these 2 would be important a little bit like today, it's great.

It's been working great. I'm happy with how they see my game and what they ask me to do on the court. They're, I think, happy with what they see on the court, and that's the best we can do.

Q. Today it seemed like in the game, Frances was trying a few dropshots in getting you to move around the court, but one of your great strengths has always been your fitness. Have you noticed that today again you could use that strength of yours?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I feel like last year for many, many reasons, I mean, tennis is a lot about many reasons, but physically I was struggling a bit. For example, even in the end of the year where I was playing great tennis, physically I could have been better, and I think some matches cost me, because also I started playing more tournaments because I needed to chase up the rankings and stuff like this so I got a bit tired.

I made a good preseason, good physical work. I'm feeling very fresh. And the two matches I played, okay, they were just a bit over one hour, so of course the real test is when it comes to these three-hour matches or more.

But I'm happy with the way I feel on the court, with the way I move, and that's the most important.

Q. Do you start thinking mentally about the AO at the moment? We know that you're, in the past, you have come close three times and just fallen off. Do you start thinking about that now, or is your mindset still here sort of in Brisbane?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: No, no, 100% here. I would kind of say that maybe if it's next week in Adelaide, I'm not playing, but if I would play, maybe you tend to think a little bit, like you're in the third set and you start cramping, you're like, oh, I don't want to pull a muscle before Australian Open.

Here, Australian Open is in one week and a half, so for sure, the better I do here, the more confidence I have for Australian Open, but to do good here, you have to not think about Australian Open, so it's a little bit both ways around.

So I'm thinking only about here. Really happy with the two matches. Looking forward to try to do more, and then get ready for Australian Open.