DailyExpertNews
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Daniil Medvedev revealed one reason behind his incredible form this year after winning the Italian Open: new racket strings.
The Russian world number 2 uses a different version of Technifbre strings and said the change in his playing has been “incredible” since making the switch ahead of the Australian Open.
He has now won five titles this year – the most of his career – and Sunday’s 7-5 7-5 win against Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final of the Italian Open was the first trophy he’s lifted on clay.
“I think the strings help me…because they are just softer so the ball goes easier,” Medvedev told reporters after beating Rune.
“Right away in Australia where I lost, with my coach we were like, ‘Wow, I’ve got the easy depth on the ball, which is great'”
“It didn’t work in Australia. I doubted myself 100%. Should I go back to the old, I played well with them? I said no let’s try more. Now it’s unbelievable.”
After being delayed for an hour and 40 minutes due to rain in Rome, Medvedev battled through a tight first set against Rune, saving two break points at 2-2 before securing the crucial break at 6-5 as he raced to the net and jumped on a drop shot.
The 20-year-old Rune responded with two breaks in the second set to take a 5-3 lead, but from there, Medvedev cemented his baseline dominance and won the next four games to round out the victory.
Having won most of his titles – including his 2021 US Open triumph – on hard courts, the clay-court victory at the Italian Open is a breakthrough moment for 27-year-old Medvedev.
Following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the French Open last week, the second grand slam of the calendar year is hard to predict with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and 22-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic leading the men’s singles draw.
But Medvedev, who has never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, will be sure. During his Italian Open campaign he had to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, among others, and has risen five places in the men’s ranking this year.
“This one is special because I didn’t think it could happen, (that I) could make it,” he said of his last title.
“I still don’t believe in it – not that I won it, but that I played so well this week. I do not believe it. As I played, I am very happy. I’m happy to have this trophy back home in a while.”
The French Open takes place from May 28 to June 11 and Medvedev, whose groundstrokes look more powerful than ever before, has emerged as a strong contender.
