ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2026

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

A. WALTON/D. Medvedev

6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Not the result you expected, and a very silly match in terms of scenario. What happened from your point of view?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, not an easy match. Didn't play my best tennis.

He played good some moments, some moments not that good, and I managed to take the match when he didn't play that well. That's it. I didn't manage to raise my level enough to win the whole match, and that's why I lost.

Q. Did you feel as though the heat played a part today? The scorelines in each set were really lopsided. I just wonder whether the heat was a factor?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: No, I don't think so. I felt okay with the heat. I mean, it's not easy for anyone to play in this heat, but I felt okay with it. Generally, I felt like we were, you know, "fresh," I mean, okay in the fifth, like we were running and stuff like this. Nobody was cramping or something.

I don't think the heat played any role except that it's just a bit different to play in the heat on clay, but again, that's just normal.

Q. Tough luck today. A few players have talked about with line judges here, which is unusual, there being less space behind the court. Obviously, you're somebody who likes to use that space. Is that something that you found today at all?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Maybe if I would have, like, a meter more, but I don't think it's line judges, because there is this, when they cover the courts, it takes this meter away, I don't know how you call the thing, but the cover, basically.

If I would have one meter, I would like it, but at the same time, again, I don't think it would change the outcome of the matches. It's just the bigger the court is, the more I like it because then you can choose your position as you want. Maybe I would not need it, but at least I would have this opportunity.

Q. You mentioned about conditions affecting your game. Can you just explain exactly for you what it means?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I don't want to find excuses. I know why I don't really play always my best in Roland Garros, but if I say it, it's excuses. So I keep it to myself (smiling).

Q. You're so unpredictable that it's really difficult for me to understand you, because I saw you lose 6-Love to Berrettini. Then you almost beat Sinner in Rome. Then you come here, you win one set 6-1, lose the next one 1-6. You are a clever person, but on court sometimes you're crazy. What is your answer?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Every tournament has a different court, different balls, different... What else? I mean, I can be different every day. I don't like to stand up early, and I'm usually less performative when I stand up at 6:15 in the morning. I like to sleep in.

So this is just part of small, in general, let's say, in tennis you need to adapt to the things, and sometimes I'm not good enough to adapt to it, and sometimes I am. That's basically all I can tell you.

Q. You're intelligent.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, but my tennis depends on couple of things that I cannot control, meaning if the ball doesn't go, I don't have the power to make it go like Jannik. It doesn't matter. Ball doesn't go, he hits it full power. The ball goes, he just makes it a bit adjustment and doesn't go full power. I go full power and if the ball doesn't go, it doesn't go.

Q. It's another early loss in Grand Slam more or less like last year, if I shall say. This one may be more surprising based on your level this season. Do you think that there is anything in terms of pressure management, emotion management, ambition management in Grand Slams right now?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: It is possible. At the same time, I do feel like I was, and I do think I am still usually good in Grand Slams, meaning yes, I can lose, even now first round, but I don't think, if I might say, I lost the ability to perform in Grand Slams.

So I do think it can come back any moment, meaning at Wimbledon, for example. But again, if we talk in general about all four Grand Slams, I think if we compared all four Grand Slams to five years ago, the game is different in these Grand Slams, and I don't think it suits me well.

So it's very tough for me to get the rhythm going. First round is the toughest one, and once I get through it, maybe I can do better.

Q. You said that you know the reasons why you maybe don't play that well at Roland Garros. Would you ever consider skipping it, missing it?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: No, no, no, no, I mean, unless I'm injured, of course. But no, I mean, even one time I had this hernia injury, and I could consider skipping it and prepare for Wimbledon, like, being more, let's even call it, healthy.

But no, I want to play Grand Slams. Same to the previous question. I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros, as well. I can. It's just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.

Maybe I should consider playing a tournament before, which I usually don't do before Grand Slams, but I mean, when it doesn't work, why not? So that's the only thing I will consider next year.