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Daniil Medvedev used his razor-sharp backhand to good effect while maintaining his ice-cool composure against Holger Rune in a rain-delayed Italian Open final on Sunday. He got past the Dane 7-5, 7-5, clinching the sixth Masters title of his career.
Medvedev who has made no secret of his dislike for the red dirt in the past was in disbelief following the memorable win. He revealed that he began to get more comfortable on the surface while in Madrid and Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this season. He reached the quarter-final in Madrid, losing to Rune.
The Russian declared that he "felt amazing" playing on the surface in Rome before adding that he still did not love clay as much as the hardcourts.
"I always want to believe in myself, I always try to do my best and I want to win the biggest tournaments in the world. At the same time, honestly, I didn't believe I could win a Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it," Medvedev stated as part of an on-court interview following the victory.
"Before this tournament, already in Madrid and Monte Carlo, I was kind of feeling not too bad. I didn't throw any big tantrums . I was like, okay, you know, guys playing better than me beat me there," he added.
Medvedev got past the likes of Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the summit round at the Italian Open. He stressed that he felt good on the red dirt of Rome right from the beginning of the tournament.
"Coming here, I felt amazing on this surface. Like I felt so good. I told my coach who came a little bit later that I don't know what's happening, but I feel amazing. Let's see how it goes," the current World No. 3 disclosed.
"I don't think I love it (clay). I love hardcourts (my only love) but I definitely like clay courts much more now," said Daniil Medvedev when asked if he had now fallen in love with the surface.
"We both started nervous and were missing our basics" - Daniil Medvedev on what it took to get past Holger Rune
Holger Rune managed an incredible comeback against Casper Ruud in the semifinals on Saturday. He looked set for a repeat when he broke Medvedev early in the second set in the final on Sunday but was broken back.
After a 38-shot rally which he finally put away in brilliant fashion with the score at 3-3, the momentum appeared to shift the Dane's way. Daniil Medvedev failed to hold serve yet again after a series of unforced errors.
The 27-year-old reckoned that both players were a bit nervous at the outset and failed to get their basics right.
"I think we both started a little bit nervous and we were both missing, let's say, our basics, like we were missing some easy shots. We were kind of not holding the game, both of us," Medvedev explained.
A champion on clay, Daniil Medvedev stated that he was proud as one had to beat the best in the business to win a Master's title. He shared that he was happy that he managed to prove to himself that he could do it.
"You need to play the toughest opponents in the world to try to make it and I'm really happy that I managed to do it and prove to myself and everybody that I'm capable of doing it," the 2021 US Open champion announced.
Unlike in the semifinals, Rune faltered towards the end of the second set. Daniil Medvedev eventually managed to tilt the scales after having lost to the World No. 7 in Monte-Carlo.
