Despite rising to world No.2 position for his incredible consistency during the hardcourt swing, Russian player Daniil Medvedev says he will be outside his comfort zone when he takes to the clay for this week’s Monte Carlo Masters.
“Honestly, there’s nothing I like on clay. “There’s always bad bounces, you’re dirty after playing. I really don’t enjoy playing on clay,” Medvedev told reporters with a wry smile.
“Mentally for me the most important is to know that some shots that maybe would be winners or I would win the point on hard courts, it’s definitely not the case on clay courts,” he said. “Working on putting some more spin, some more trajectory. All of this is tough because, for nine-10 months, I’m playing like I’m used to, then I have to change it for two months, still keeping the things that I do well also,” he added.
Medvedev replaced Rafa Nadal as No. 2 last month, becoming the first player outside the Spaniard, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to be ranked in the top two since Lleyton Hewitt in July 2005.
But all 10 of his career titles have come on hard courts and the 25-year-old has never managed to get past the first round of the French Open on the red clay at Roland Garros in four attempts.