Medvedev on Pressure, Patience, and Finding His Rhythm Again in Almaty

Daniil Medvedev walked into the press room after a tight, emotional victory, a mix of relief and quiet satisfaction on his face. It wasn’t a routine win, and he knew it.
Still recovering from the physical toll of his Asian swing in Shanghai and Beijing, Medvedev managed to edge past Australia’s James Walton in a match that tested both his patience and composure  before winning 7-5,7-6(0) in a tight 1hour 44 minute thriller
In his trademark candid style, the world No.18 spoke openly about how confidence, self-control, and crowd support helped him find a way through.
Q: It’s hard to compare surfaces and tournaments, but how do you see your performance here versus earlier this season?
Medvedev: It’s hard to compare the conditions — they’re different, after all. Indoor hard courts are faster, so the serve flies more.  every match is a battle. . Today, thanks to the confidence I built up in Shanghai and Beijing, I managed to win. The match was close   the first set, the second too. Even though I didn’t feel 100% physically, I was able to play the right shots at the right moments   that’s what I lacked in earlier events.
Q: In the second set, Walton had several break points. Those were tense moments. How do you handle situations like that?
Medvedev: Those moments happen in every match. The key is how you manage them. In Cincinnati, I had similar situations but couldn’t convert. Today, at 5–5, he played some really tough rallies to save the break points. Of course, I’d have liked to finish 7–5 instead of 7–6, but that’s tennis. Every match has those key moments   the more you win, the better your chances.
Q: Early in the second set, you seemed frustrated — you even let your emotions show. How did you regain control?
Medvedev: Yeah, a bit  nervous today, which isn’t typical for me. I put a lot of pressure on myself, for personal reasons I’d rather not get into. This is probably the closest thing to a «home» tournament for me, with Russian fans in the stands, and that adds a layer of pressure. I’m not proud of the outburst, but I’m glad I managed to refocus at 1–4. I told myself, «Okay, just play point by point.» That mindset helped turn things around.
Q: You mentioned feeling some physical discomfort after the China swing. How’s your body holding up now?
Medvedev: I had some issues before the tournament, and honestly, I wanted to play well here maybe a bit too much. At another event, I might’ve taken it easier, but this one feels special. I’m happy that I managed to win and that, by the end, I was already moving better. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll feel even better. Every match here is tough, but if I can keep improving, I’ll have every chance.
Q: A lighter one — from the stands, someone shouted you were the «best player of the Bullet.» Which football club would you compare yourself to today?
Medvedev: (Laughs) Good one. Maybe Liverpool when Klopp had just arrived — not playing great yet, but still finding a way to grab a win at the end. Yeah, that’s how it felt.
Q: And finally, the crowd — they were vocal today. Did that energy help or distract you?
Medvedev: It helped, for sure. During the match, you don’t think about it much   you’re focused on tactics, but the support gives you energy. Especially in those long games, it makes a difference. It’s always better when the crowd’s cheering for you, so I really appreciated it.
Q: You face Marozsan next   your thoughts on that matchup?
Medvedev: We played once over a year ago, so that match doesn’t mean much now. He’s a great player with a strong record against top guys, so I know I’ll have to play my best. It should be a great match.