“I felt so many good emotions that I was like ‘Wow, I’m actually a sensitive person” – Medvedev
Medvedev plays his first match as a father against Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Wednesday
Daniil Medvedev on Media Day at the 2022 US Open
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev has played hundreds of tournaments in his career. But this week’s Erste Bank Open in Vienna will be his first as a father.
Medvedev and his wife Daria welcomed their daughter earlier this month even as the tennis world was unaware that the Russian was on his way to becoming a parent.
While it may be too early to say whether fatherhood will change him, Medvedev admitted that becoming a parent has made him discover that he does have a sensitive side.
“Lot of emotions I thought I was not able to feel. I was not able to feel,” Medvedev said in an interview to TennisTV. “Not able to feel like this because I am quite a cold person in life, and then I felt so many good emotions that I was like ‘Wow, I’m actually a sensitive person. I can be a sensitive person.’ Lot of fun. Lot of good feelings.”
“I am a competitor… I still want to win” – Medvedev
However, the Russian added that becoming a father has not taken anything off his competitive edge and that he still wants to win as much as he did earlier.
“I am a competitor. I want to continue going to tournaments, trying to do my best, winning. I was practicing a lot before coming here. In those terms, nothing will change. I still want to win.”
Vienna will be Medvedev’s first tournament since retiring from the semi-finals in Astana against Novak Djokovic due to an adductor injury more than two weeks ago.
The world No 4 says he has completely recovered from the injury now. “I was able to get a full 100 percent session on Saturday to decide if I’m coming here because I was not sure. I did not feel any pain, so I came here and practiced and played good tennis. I was running all over the court and feel 100 percent ready.” Medvedev said.
Currently leading the race for the final three spots in the season-ending ATP Finals, Medvedev begins his Vienna campaign against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Wednesday in what will be the first meeting between the two players.
