DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 24, 2026

Daniil Medvedev

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/Shang J.

6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Daniil, obviously coming back to Dubai, very familiar with the location. How does that help you and how happy are you with your performance today?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I like playing in Dubai. I like spending time in Dubai. So That helps. That's why I'm coming back to the tournament.

In general, the match I feel like was not bad. Then yes, last probably two, maybe three games, he got a bit injured. But before that, I don't think he was. I think it was a fair match.

I'm happy that I managed to beat him because he's a very strong opponent.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Not on today's match, I just wanted to ask you the length of the tour, there are lots of players complaining about the number of tournaments they have to play, the mandatories, et cetera. Is there some kind of not consensus, but some kind of an understanding of how that can be tackled? If you were given the reins, how would you make it more playable for all the players?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I would think the players would agree, from what I'm hearing, to making more let's say even more mandatory tournaments. Because now it's what? Nine, probably four Grand Slams.

Make it a bit more, like get rid of the other ones. I love them. That's the only way to make the tour shorter. It's never going to happen because there are licenses, and basically ATP won't have enough money to buy all of them. The other tournaments, they won't say, Yeah, okay, we're out, because they would lose the money. It's business.

I think right now with how the ATP Tour, it's never going to change, at least while I'm playing, many other guys.

But in general, yeah, I would say make four Grand Slams, I don't know, 11 Masters, and that's it. The other tournaments, maybe make them without points or something. Not like exhibitions, but without points or something.

Because what happens is last year, like, Holger got injured in Stockholm, everybody was like, Yeah, but you don't have to play it. If he wants to be in Turin, he has to, even if it's not a mandatory tournament. That is where it is borderline. Players don't even know.

Last year I played in seven tournaments in a row. Did I have to? No. I played bad in the beginning of the year, maybe I can get 100 points here, 200 points here, be higher seeded next year, et cetera, et cetera. If there would be no points there, at least it is an easier decision. But it's not going to happen.

Q. Are players constantly checking those things, like ranking points, where others are playing, who can go higher than you? Does that happen?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, I think it's always there a bit, especially like let's say you get closer to Turin, you're No. 9 in the race, of course you are.

I know by experience, it's much easier when you're like No. 2, No. 3 in the world. You are like, I'm good there. Whenever you play only semis of the tournaments, that is where you can go like Carlos, Jannik, Sascha, you can say okay.

I play my Grand Slams, I play the Masters and then I see. For other players, like me right now, in the situation I'm in, like 11 in the world or something, it's always a bit like, Yeah, maybe I have to play this tournament, win some points. Maybe I can be No. 8 in the next Grand Slam or whatever. I'm not playing as well as before, so maybe I can get my form up here.

Again, if there would not be tournaments, at least I would not this have the choice. I think maybe Nakashima played the most tournaments last year. You can play, what, 35 weeks on tour. I don't think you should have this possibility.

Q. You seem often a spokesman for the sport, in your own characteristic way, of course. I was wondering, what is it that you think that the audience, tennis fans, do not still understand about being a professional tennis player, from your experience, something that you often touch on when you have your dialogues?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, that's a very good question because I think, first of all, it's very complex, right? In general, let's say doesn't matter sportsman or not, tennis player or not, what's very tough for people, me as well, is to put yourself in somebody's shoes. That's very tough.

Of course, what people first see is we're playing in front of thousands of people, we're getting good money, especially those of course in the top 50 and top 100. And the first thought is like, Okay, why are they complaining at all? Like, they should not.

It's the same in every sport.

Then, of course, what people don't see, it's not the pressure. Pressure, everyone has it. For example, if we speak about tennis, it's the toll the travel plus competition brings on you. Even meaning, coming from Doha to Dubai, it's very short. The balls are different, the courts are different. Let's say stupid things. The hotel is different, the bed is different, the pillow is different.

That all is a little bit tough for your body. You don't feel it, like, constantly. But imagine doing this 40 times a year, and we do.

The time change and of course the food change. The food in every country's different, in every site. All of this would be easy to handle if you wouldn't have a match to play the next day against an opponent that wants to win as much as you. And if you don't win, you lose and you feel I am bad.

I think that's what people don't exactly understand about tennis, and that is why sometimes upset happen. Like you can come somewhere, you never going to tell it to someone, but you got food poisoning, which is not that big to retire, but big enough to make you in a bad shape. You're going to lose a match. Everyone is going to be like, What the hell? You are just food poisoning.

I think that's what tough in tennis, the travel, plus willingness to win and stuff like this.

Q. I wanted to ask you, is it easier now to become a tennis professional with racquet technology? Now of course the coaching rules. Do you sometimes tear your brain off having the coach telling you...

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I think now it's much tougher, in general. I'm not talking about this thing that now is popular, top 10, before, after. Let's say even top 300 is definitely much stronger than before.

As you say, more people have the ability to play tennis. Federations are more involved. A lot of people maybe who would not have the opportunity before to travel and play tennis have it now.

So I think to become a tennis professional inside the top 300 is much tougher than before. In general, the level is more close than before.

About coaching and stuff like this? This is just evolution of life. I think before I came on tour, every coach was talking. Now you can do it and not be scared of a coach violation. But before everyone was talking. I mean, you see Rafa or someone else, especially like maybe it's more popular in Spanish countries and stuff like this, they talked a lot. It's fine. Nothing changed in this case.

Q. What is one thing you do prematch that nobody else does?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Nobody else does? I think we all do the same thing. But let me think.

Mine, I change it sometimes. Like I rarely listen to the music. But for example I lost couple of matches. Today I was like, You know what, maybe listen a bit to the music I like to put myself in the good mood. I did that. I'm not the only one.

Same today, we played a bit of cards with my team. Some players do it. Then of course you do the physical warm-up.

No, maybe the only thing I did a bit different today, maybe not everyone would do the same, I only had breakfast. A match at 2 is never easy. If you want to have lunch, to wake up early and have breakfast early, then have lunch. I decided to just go for breakfast. Maybe let's say this.

Thank you.