Daniil Medvedev, the world number four, is seeking to improve his performance on clay courts ahead of the French Open next month. Despite winning 18 of his 20 titles on hardcourts, including the 2021 U.S. Open, and a grasscourt crown at the Mallorca Open the same year, Medvedev has only won one claycourt trophy, the 2023 Rome Masters, in the lead-up to Roland Garros.
Medvedev, who was runner-up at the Australian Open in January, had a disappointing start to the claycourt season, losing early in Monte Carlo this month. However, he believes he can improve under the guidance of Simon, a five-time tour-level trophy winner on clay.
“He tries to bring something to my game, which maybe I thought of, but didn’t understand how I should bring it on the court,” Medvedev told reporters at the Madrid Open. “He explains how I can do it and for me then it’s important because during the match you don’t have time to think too much. It’s more of a reaction. So I have to be smart to not overthink what he says. Overthink it in practice, maybe, but not during the match.”
“I feel like in Monte Carlo, because we talked a lot about playing … I maybe thought too much about ‘OK, next shot, what do I do?’ Where I actually had to play more.
“It’s very interesting and for the moment it’s working great. I’m looking forward to learning more things.” Medvedev will begin his Madrid campaign against Christopher O’Connell or Matteo Arnaldi.
