Daniil Medvedev secured his first clay court title with a win at the 2023 Italian Open. The Russian player defeated Holger Rune in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5, earning praise from former World No. 2, Alex Corretja, who called him a “genius” for his impressive display. Medvedev’s triumph in Rome ensures that he will be seeded second for the 2023 French Open.
Improvements on Clay Court
Throughout the 2023 Italian Open, Medvedev dropped just one set, showcasing his improved skills on the clay court. Eurosport expert Alex Corretja emphasized Medvedev’s unique playstyle, saying, “He is someone that you don’t know what to think is on his mind because he is saying things when maybe he feels different things.” Corretja also noted that Medvedev has learned to play differently on clay, hitting harder forehands and coming closer to the baseline while maintaining deep backhands and solid defense.
Impressive Tournament Run
Medvedev’s victorious path in the tournament included defeating Emil Ruusuvuori, Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Alex Zverev, Yannik Hanfmann, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune. His performance at the Rome Masters could signal a strong run in the upcoming French Open. Medvedev’s best result at the French Open so far was in 2021 when he reached the quarterfinals, only to lose to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Grand Slam Performance
Despite his success at the Italian Open, Medvedev has historically not performed as well at Wimbledon compared to the French Open. His best result at Wimbledon came in 2021 when he reached the fourth round before losing to Hubert Hurkacz. However, Medvedev managed to win the 2021 US Open, defeating Novak Djokovic, and has competed in the finals of the Australian Open twice, losing to Djokovic in 2021 and Rafael Nadal in 2022.
In conclusion, Daniil Medvedev’s performance at the 2023 Italian Open showcases his growth as a player and could be an indicator of strong results in future Grand Slam tournaments, especially the French Open.
