“He’s not a shy guy, he can do it”: Safin on Medvedev’s chances in the US Open finale and superiority over Nadal

- Daniil Medvedev was the first Russian tennis player to make it to the final of the Grand Slam tournament over the past 14 years. The previous achievement is yours. How do you feel about the fact that on the network he is already called the “second Marat Safin”?

- To be honest, I practically do not sit on the Internet, I do not read newspapers, so I have not heard anything about such parallels between us. I take it calmly, by and large, I do not care.

- And what do you think, do you and Medvedev have any similarities?

- No, it seems to me that we are completely different. And his playing style is still different. Let's just say that he has more feelings on the court than I had before. Maybe in some little things, of course, there are coincidences, but on the whole, Daniel and I are polar personalities.

- Before the semifinal match between Medvedev and Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, you stated that you were betting on a Russian and you consider him a clear favorite of the pair. It turns out that Daniel met your expectations?

- I didn’t doubt him. Do not be shy to say that I understand tennis. I’ve been doing it all my life and, apparently, I see things that may not be clear to anyone. He surpassed Grigor both in terms of tactics and physical indicators. Daniil is just a player of a different level, Dimitrov is just a good middle peasant.

- Are there any fears that Medvedev, having climbed so high, may not be able to cope with psychological pressure?

- Of course, no one is safe from the sharp decline, but I feel that in Medvedev there is an unrealized potential that we have yet to discover. Yes, different things happen, and the history of world sports knows cases when even the best fell down. But in the case of Daniel, this is unlikely to happen. Only some supernatural circumstances can prevent him from settling in the first three and claiming the title of the first racket of the world.

- Nevertheless, many talk about his psychological instability. Could this be a factor that could have a negative impact on such a rapid career development of a 23-year-old Muscovite?

- I don’t know what kind of specialists they are who note such problems with him. In our sport, unfortunately, there are a lot of people who want to show their knowledge and have to say something. I call them couch troops. These are people who are better than us, athletes, versed in tennis, and in football, and in basketball. But the bulk simply cannot distinguish between pros and non-pros, while actively creating some kind of informational background.

“He’s not a shy guy.”

- The head of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev noted that the victory over Dimitrov in three sets won for Daniel extra time for rest and recovery. Do you have a recipe on how to spend the day before the finals, then to win it?

- There are no secrets. In fact, the final is the same match as all the previous ones. There is no need to do anything supernatural: massage, warm-up and battle. The only thing that I would advise him was to listen less to the pathos of speeches addressed to him. Ignore what is happening around. The key to success should be concentration.

- Distracting?

It’s time for him to get used to this noise. Now there will be even more ingenious advisers who will tell how to live after such victories and tournaments. From those who want to help, it is better to stay away - as they say in the people, do not be fooled by such things. Medvedev needs to stick to his team, with which he has been working for many years and which knows him thoroughly.

- Medvedev issued a long two-month series of bright matches and won 22 victories in 22 meetings. How does an athlete working in such a schedule feel?

- In fact, nothing special. I do not want to offend anyone, but only amateurs can talk about the fact that because of the large number of matches he had some kind of emotional burnout. I do not agree with statements about fatigue. On the contrary, now he is in good shape and consciously headed for this goal. When to win, if not now? There is no need to invent stories that something can interfere with him.

- What is better than Medvedev Rafael Nadal, whom the Russian recently lost at a tournament in Montreal?

- He’s not that a cut above and a priori better, he just has excellent chances of success. Physics doesn’t let him down, a young guy with brains plays powerfully. He certainly won't be scared.

- But after all, experience speaks for Nadal, including participation in title matches. Will this factor play into the hands of the Spaniard or vice versa will liberate Medvedev, who has already held the best tournament of his career?

- Rafa is not only more experienced, he is older. Believe me, he wants to win more than Dan. Losing an opponent who is younger than you is a painful blow. But on the whole, yes, Medvedev, in theory, will play more freely, because nothing presses on him, but from Nadal nothing but victory is expected, no one expects, it can break him.

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Final 💥🗽 @usopen

Publication by Medvedev Daniil (@ medwed33) Sep 6, 2019 at 6:26 am PDT

- What does Medvedev first need to do to beat Nadal?

- To play calmly, to hold on, not to be nervous, not to be upset if something suddenly goes wrong. The fate of the final will be decided in two or three goals and they need to be reached with a cold head.

- What game do you expect from rivals? In what scenario will the final meeting develop?

- I think a lot will depend on how the match starts. Medvedev needs to keep his pitch. It's the most important. At Nadal, this component is slightly weaker, so this is the advantage on the side of Dani. It is necessary to actively attack and survive at crucial moments. But it seems he is not a shy guy, so, as before, I believe in his victory. He is able to take this last step.