Daniil Medvedev will be eager to put all of his focus on the Rotterdam Open, but part of him may still be thinking about his disastrous Australian Open.
Medvedev is among the biggest Australian Open losers, having fallen in the second round to American youngster Learner Tien.
And in his first round meeting with Kasidit Samrej, Medvedev was booed by the Australian Open crowd, summarising his disappointing experience in Melbourne.
Medvedev was the fifth seed at the Australian Open, where he is a three-time finalist, having lost last year’s final to Jannik Sinner.
He now moves on from that early exit by taking on Stan Wawrinka at the Rotterdam Open, where Sinner is taking a rest from his recent Grand Slam success.
Daniil Medvedev wants to improve confidence after shock Australian Open loss
Medvedev is the second seed in Rotterdam, with the Russian sharing what he has been working on ahead of the event with the ATP Tour website.
“It was a tough result in Australia,” he said. “In a way, it was a good match, but a tough result. I am just trying to look forward and bounce back, that is the only way. I have to try to gain some confidence to win some matches.
“I am trying to get my game more competitive. It is not easy but I am working on a lot of things but I think my confidence is the most important.
“Confidence and the work you put in show in the most important moments of matches, and you try and put the reps in to have that belief in your body.
“I am working on lots of areas. Let’s take volleys. I am not the best at the net on tour but I am capable sometimes of making some amazing volleys in important moments.
“One against Learner in Australia. You work every day on aspects of your game and sometimes they work in matches and sometimes not.
“I feel I am in a good position. I had a very good pre-season and a great week before the Australian Open. I remain calm.
“I am confident I can find my level and play my best in Rotterdam. When you have an amazing week and results and then you lose the next tournament early, you feel your good result is forgotten. That is tennis.
“It works both ways, when you have a bad result people focus on that until you play well again. I hope I can play well here this week at an event I have had success at.”
Daniil Medvedev excited for new generation after Australian Open loss to Learner Tien
Tien was among the rising stars to really shine at the Australian Open, with his fellow NextGen player Joao Fonseca also picking up a top 10 win against Andrey Rublev.
A total of five of the eight players from the 20-and-under tournament in Jeddah in December reached at least the second round in Melbourne, with Tien joined by fellow American Alex Michelsen in making it to round four.
Sharing his thoughts on that new group of ATP players, Medvedev noted: “I think it is normal to have a new generation coming. I think every generation probably had this. Young guys coming and beating top 10 players at majors.
“Learner played a great match and was able to win the next one even when we finished at three in the morning. So that showed he was ready for it and a good sign.
“But with this new generation, there are a lot of good young guys. Some generations have more players coming through like this than others, but there are always great players coming.
“Let’s see what they are able to do over the coming period, that is tough. But for sure they have a very strong generation.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
