Daniil Medvedev is a Russian professional tennis player who is currently ranked by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) as the world’s number two player. He has won ten ATP Tour singles titles and has defeated the top three players Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Dominic Thiem. He has been an ambassador for Bovet since 2019 and kindly agreed to chat with WorldTempus during a visit to Bovet during the recent Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
WorldTempus: We seem to have been hearing the same names in tennis for the longest time and it is so nice to hear a new name in this inner circle of champions. How does it feel to be in the limelight?
Daniil Medvedev: I mean, to be honest, it feels good, you know everyone who has made these rankings has worked very hard, so the further you go, the higher you go, and the more pay you get for your work, so it is always a bonus and always makes you happy. As soon as you become number two, you have to work even harder to make number one. And then when you become number one – even if I don’t know what this feels like – you think, okay, I have to stay here as many weeks as possible, I need to win as many Grand Slams as I can, stuff like this. So, I’m just happy that I managed to be among the top players in the world.
WT: When you prepare for a match, do you visualize it in your mind beforehand, going through the moves, or do you just go out there and give it your best shot?
DM: For me, I have my routine. The day before a match, I will stick with my coach and we will talk about tactics. Then the night before, I will prepare mentally, trying to stay calm, trying to spend my energy on things other than tennis, and then I come on to the court and just try and play my best and try to beat my opponent, which is always very tough because actually, it is always two guys and there is only one who wins, so it is a 50% chance, which isn’t that much.
WT: It is true that tennis is one of those sports where you either win or lose. There is no silver or bronze medal. How do you manage losing so it doesn’t get you down?
DM: To be honest, it’s very important, because the thing is that sometimes you will make the finals and you have got to be happy with the result but it is nothing like winning the final which sometimes takes five, six, seven matches. It may sound stupid but you come so close and you should be happy, but if you lose the final, you are not happy. But the good thing about tennis is that you have maybe 20 to 25 tournaments a year so you know you are always going to have another chance in a week or two.
WT: Do you have an opponent who you enjoy playing the most?
DM: I think it is the big three because I was watching them when I was really young, when I was not at all driven to be there, I thought it might be impossible. And then I’m there. I already played a lot of matches against them. And this is a special feeling. And you always enjoy playing against them although it is very, very hard.
WT: You are an ambassador for Bovet. What appealed to you about the brand?
DM: Bovet was the first company that was interested in me. I had never worn a watch before and I met Mr. Raffy and he made a big impression on me. And I thought, okay, that feels like a family, so we should try. Together with my agent, we discussed this and I am really happy.
WT: Do you have any plans to make a watch together?
DM: There are no plans for the moment, although I would be so happy to do that. I am hoping to go and visit the brand soon. I was planning to go to Switzerland last summer, but with the pandemic and everything, but hopefully I can visit soon and perhaps discuss something.
WT: If you could change any of the rules in tennis, what would you change?
DM: You know in tennis, we have this rule that on some tournaments it is one minute between games, especially Grand Slams, and other tournaments it is 1: 30. And then on the same tournament sometimes if you are lower ranked it is 1:30, so I think this rule should be the same for every tournament around the world because it will make life easier for everybody. And when you play in some hot and humid places one minute is not enough.
WT: I hear you have a very sweet tooth and you reward yourself with desserts? What is your go-to pudding?
DM: I like all desserts, but I would have to say that my favourite is panna cotta. I don’t take it every day, I try and mix it up a bit, but it is definitely my favourite.
