AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2026

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Happy New Year, everyone.

Q. The title in Brisbane, does that give you renewed confidence coming to the AO?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Sure. I mean, it's a great feeling. I knew last year I was playing better already, much better in the end of the season. I was struggling a bit physically with the season I had, and I didn't have time with the new team yet to, like, make a big preparation, so we made a good preseason.

Again, if I would lose in Brisbane or win, I would still be kind of confident for the season to come. When you win, it's only a good feeling, so I'm happy that I won.

Q. We haven't seen you since U.S. Open. Can you talk about the reset period and then building back a new team and how this new start is feeling?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It was, of course, a big decision in my life with Gilles. It depends how we count, but like 11 or 8 years fully together.

In the end, it was the moment to do it, the turning point. It helped me a lot. Loved working with Thomas and Rohan. We were first kind of, let's call it, on a trial period until the end of the season. But I love working with them. I do think they love working with me, so we decided to continue. Hopefully it can be a long one and a great one.

That's basically it. Of course, a lot of -- they are different people, so it's a different style of coaching and different style of practices, everything, but we have a lot of fun. It's working great. I'm feeling great on the court.

Q. How much then actually changes with your practice and the way you prepare? What did you feel you needed to keep the same?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, as I say, of course, it's different person, so it's completely different. When I was looking for a new coach, I was looking for someone who would understand my game and what I'm doing on the court. They were kind of, when we talked to them, straightaway I felt that they understand what I'm doing on the court.

You know, for a person maybe that doesn't go into details looking into tennis, he would be, like, how does Medvedev win? He's standing somewhere far behind the baseline. Okay, he can serve well sometimes, but at the same time, he's doing double faults and this and that. How does he win tennis matches? Of course, they were players. They are great coaches, so they know.

But they also could, like, kind of go into detail straightaway of what they saw that was missing at that moment because it was after US Open, and how maybe we can get back where I want to be.

Again, then after talking, the practice process, we do try to add and implement some things, like I go a bit more to the net, I feel like my volley improved. So small things like this help me on the court.

Q. You've changed so much in your career. So far, a Grand Slam title, a World No. 1. In a way, it's only fitting this year, it's kind of a time for reflection, what are your goals going forward? Have you got specific targets in the rest of your career?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I have one now. I usually say that my goal is to play good tennis, which is that's true. That's most important. When I play my best tennis, I can win titles, I can win Grand Slams, I can be in final of Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, and all this, but this comes with playing good. So first it comes from the practice court, et cetera, et cetera.

But now my goal is to win a second title somewhere in the city where I already won. It's a clear goal. I'm saying it out loud. I'm not sure to achieve it, but I'm going to do my best to try to do it.

Here we're in Melbourne, so I hope to get to 23 before I get a second somewhere.

Q. Is it particular or just will any other city do?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: No, any other. Any city. I'm usually playing tournaments now, which I like tournaments. Any city of this will do.

Q. A similar theme... tennis players travel the world more than any other athlete really.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Probably.

Q. Are you affected by jet lag? If so, how do you cope with it? What strategies do you have?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Of course, I would be surprised if anyone said, No, no, not at all. It's tough. Of course, Australia is probably one of the toughest ones. Then there is also Dubai, Los Angeles is brutal.

But there are some techniques, if you don't have a family. With the family is tougher. You could, for example, when you are back in Europe, you can actually adjust to Australian time step by step. Then coming here, you would feel kind of well. I did it last year, because I was coming late.

Then just try to leave by the time where you arrive. So, of course, you come to Australia, you want to sleep at, like, 12. Well, don't do it. Go to bed at, like, 10 at least or maybe 11 and wake up -- try to wake up at 8 or 9. Then it's going to help you. It's not easy.

Q. ATP website, at the end of last year, did a series of the best rivalries of 2025. One of the picks was you and Learner Tien, which I don't think anybody would have expected that to be one of the rivalries of the year when the year started.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: For sure, yeah.

Q. Curious what that sort of rivalry, if you want to call it that, means to you and what you think of Learner and his progress and his possible future? You guys played some -- it was a good pick. It made sense.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It was unreal. We played only three matches, but they were all unreal. Like, unreal. One of them was kind of not on ATP tournament. It was a great match here.

No, he's amazing player, in my opinion. He's super young, so he has so much to improve. It's like you never know. Again, Jannik, for example, until he was, what, maybe 20, everyone knew he can play amazing, but nobody knew he would be unbeatable at one point. Then he managed to step up to work with his team.

A lot of players can do it, and he has a potential to be very good. For sure our games connect on some level. His game connects to mine. Actually, my game connects to him. That's why both of us, we kind of cannot hit a winner, so we have to fight for every point.

We both kind of read each other's serve. His serve he for sure needs to improve. He can serve great, as well. Honestly, when I look back now, it's fun to play him. I think that's what I'm going to also like the next matches I play, because I didn't know him before last year, so I was kind of struggling, like, mentally to play him. Okay, why? What's happening? Now I'm going to enjoy it much more.