THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2026

Daniil Medvedev

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/D. Merida

3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Daniil, your thoughts on the match today.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Tough match. I do feel like he played really well. So that's great, you know, to win these type of matches, because the guy sometimes, they come, they try to play their best tennis, and I think he played pretty good.

So to be able to beat him and also through the match, I feel like I played better and better. Was finding solutions, better shots. So pretty happy about it, and looking forward for what's next.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Great win. Speaking to Novak the other day, he was talking about a correlation between the longer Masters 1000 tournaments and the run-up to Grand Slams being very clammed up and seeing more players getting injured. What is your opinion on that? How do you see that going forward, as well?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I always said the same thing. I'm maybe one of not that many players who likes kind of the long Masters event. But I feel like they somehow should have even more importance, so people really prioritize them if they become that long.

Because what happens is you win two 500 events and let's say maybe Hamburg, which I love actually the tournament, but if you look at the draw, it is not the biggest draw, it is not a Masters 1000, you win two like this, the same points as winning, like, Indian Wells or something, it's not exactly right, in my opinion.

So maybe there is some room to move there where Masters should be like really, really big tournaments where you go full, and then you kind of maybe don't have to, if you play them well, play other tournaments. If you don't play them well then you have time and you can play other tournaments.

I don't know if it's exactly there is a correlation exactly with injuries, but I see also the point that it can be too long, and then it gets too congested.

I'm somewhere in between right now. Before I was really supportive of them, and now I'm somewhere in between.

Q. When did that shift?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I think in general, because there has been some time since when it started, and for example, last year I didn't play that well in, let's say, Toronto, Cincinnati, and the thing for me, at least, is even when you lose early, it's still like you've played the tournament.

So sometimes I remember when I was super young, my coaches were like, You lost first round, let's play more tournaments.

I am like, even if I lost first round, it was a preparation for the tournament, preparation for the first match. So you do get tired.

I think there should be, like, you come into a year, and you're like, My plan is to play four Grand Slams, all Masters 1000, and then I see which tournaments I add here and there. Whereas now when you're chasing Turin, for example, which I was kind of at the end of last year, I didn't get there, but I played seven or eight tournaments in eight weeks, because 250 points can matter, and I think there should be a bit more importance there.

Q. You have won a Grand Slam, and now Zverev, same generation, has won one. For yourself personally, do you take a bit more hope knowing that there is more of a chance winning a Grand Slam with, one, Carlos not being in the draw for Roland Garros and not here Wimbledon? And two, in the changing room, are other players of your generation, does it feel like they believe a little bit more potentially? Have you talked to them, like, Andrey and other players at all?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, Andrey is not a good example in Wimbledon (smiling).

But I think in general, like any other sport, I don't think that seeing someone win -- I mean, at least in my opinion -- makes you believe more in yourself, because, I mean, I know that when I play my best tennis, which I did this year, even couple of tournaments, I can be in the final of a slam or win a slam, and that's what matters.

Sascha winning, it didn't change my belief in it. But I'm happy that one more player of our -- actually, Dominic, even if he's not exactly this generation, but also won one -- can be considered three. Maybe we can push for more a bit. And for sure Carlos out makes a big difference. Jannik is still there. He's winning a lot of matches. If something exterior, like in Roland Garros, didn't hit him.

Yeah, that's how sport is. It's just funny. I can only talk for myself. I believe in myself. But I'm pretty sure that other players from my generation believe in them as well and can win a Grand Slam, for sure.

Q. Sascha has the chance to go back to No. 2 this week if he reaches the final. Got me thinking about the top of the rankings, top two spots. Obviously you have been at World No. 1, so it might not be much of a motivation at this stage of your career. But my question is, do you think World No. 1 kind of still feels possible for you and for other players on tour?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Well, I think, first of all, it's possible for literally everyone. You just need to play super good, super consistent, et cetera. Me, same. I know if I manage to do the right things and maybe be better in couple of components, meaning play like in Rome and Roland Garros and don't lose first rounds, stuff like this, you can get more points, because at one point I think I was second in the race, now I'm not. I don't know how far is Sascha off Jannik. I think he was pretty far at one point, but now probably cut back after Roland Garros.

So it's possible for everyone. You just need to be super consistent, super strong, win a lot of matches. Of course, for example, if you ask me at this moment, I'm far from these guys in the points, but in the same time, this is sport, and everything is possible.

For me, motivation is to try to play my best, maybe win here, and then you get 2,000 points. Then rankings is always secondary, because it comes with good results.

Q. You are saying 'secondary'. Do you think World No. 1 is less of an achievement to Grand Slams, or what do you take as a higher achievement, do you think?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I think Grand Slam is a higher achievement. Once you win a Grand Slam in a year, you already pretend to be world No. 1. Of course, there are other three Grand Slams. If it's another guy's winning it, maybe they're going to be the No. 1.

But 2,000 points is a lot, and probably if you won a Grand Slam, probably you will play good in other tournaments, as well. That's what happened for me, for example. The year I won US Open, I stayed No. 1, keeping these points in my pocket, because I think I got No. 1, like, not exactly after Australian Open, but close to it. And then I kind of stayed No. 1 till the US Open. Then I lost I think fourth round to Kyrgios, dropped the points, and then I was not World No. 1.

For me, yes, ranking is secondary, but it shows how well you have been playing for the last 52 weeks, and it's a big achievement if you manage to play better than all the other guys in the world in these last 52 weeks.

Q. (Question about self-belief.)

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I mean, I always believed in myself, and sometimes after some losses this belief drops. Sometimes after some wins this belief goes higher.

Once you're still in the tournament and you didn't lose, I always believe I can win, beat everyone, and be the best.

Q. Just on growing tennis as a sport, a couple of players, Rybakina was mic'd up and said she actually thought she played better when she was mic'd up, which was interesting. Novak, he talked about tennis as a sport having to innovate and go a different direction. From your perspective, do you have any thoughts on how tennis could grow as a sport to attract a wider audience?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: I'll be honest with you, I prefer to leave this to more competent people. That's how I work in life. Like, if I want to do something, meaning let's say tomorrow, even during Wimbledon, I decide to -- what can it be? I don't know -- become the best at drinking still water. Sorry. I have a bad example.

When I say 'research', I'm not going to read a thousand books, but to go a little bit into detail, try to analyze, How can I become better? I'm probably not going to be No. 1 in drinking still water in a day, but I will try to make the best chances.

So far, I'm not in the position to say what's better for tennis as a sport to grow, but I do believe in competent people who are doing this - ATP, Grand Slams - even if we have a small, let's say, disagreements with the Grand Slams, that's how we try to move forward. That brings attention actually to tennis and Grand Slams, as well.

I try to do my best job on the court. Sometimes I entertain people in a bad way, sometimes in a good way. That's how some people probably know because of me from TikTok or whatever. I just try to do my job, and I do believe people working in tennis are also trying their best.

I think tennis is still a very big sport and I'm honestly pretty confident it's going to continue growing and just trust the people around it.

Q. As a player, are you open to the changes?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I'm open to any changes, and of course if one change like, let's say, camera in the locker room, I'll be against it. But something else, why not? Some innovations, 100% for it.

If I don't like something, I will go to the competent people and say, Look, me personally, I don't know other players, I don't like it, and maybe there's going to be a hundred players that don't like it, and we are going to move to a different innovation.

And I think tennis is trying. I think tennis is good (smiling).