Daniil Medvedev dreams of a new triumph in Rome.

Daniil Medvedev is ready to write a new chapter in his troubled relationship with clay courts. Just over three years ago, the Russian tennis player surprisingly clinched his first and only title on this surface: the prestigious Internazionali d’Italia tournament in Rome. In the final, Medvedev defeated young Holger Rune, an achievement he himself admitted he never imagined he would reach. However, far from being a springboard for continued success on “red clay,” that victory remains an exception in a journey marked by more frustrations than glories on this type of surface.

In statements to TennisTV, the former world number one provided an honest assessment of his performance during that unforgettable week. “I think I did everything very well that week. This is the beauty of clay: every shot has to be perfect. Of course, it also depends on each person’s playing style on this surface. For me, all the shots have to be perfectly synchronized, and a few years ago they were. That’s the level I will try to reach again this year,” Medvedev stated, making it clear that his goal is to replicate that achievement and recreate his Roman triumph.

But recent reality has been tough for Medvedev on clay. In the first event of the season, in Monte Carlo, the Russian suffered a humiliating defeat against Italian Matteo Berrettini, failing to win a single game. In Madrid, despite showing a considerably better performance, he was again defeated, this time by another Italian talent, Flavio Cobolli. Regarding this match, Medvedev acknowledged the quality of his opponent and praised his own display: “I think I played very well in Madrid and felt very comfortable. The match against Cobolli, even with the loss, was of the highest level. There are many positive aspects to take away from Rome. I will try to improve even more, and that’s where I might be able to go further in the tournament, and that’s what I will try to do,” assured the 2021 US Open champion.

Daniil Medvedev knows that the challenge has been set. The ambition is clear: to transform a moment of isolated glory into a regularity of success on clay, historically dominated by other styles and players. At 30 years old, the Russian is at a crucial stage of his career to prove that his talent goes far beyond fast surfaces and that he can finally dominate the “red clay” with the same authority he exhibits on other courts. The race for a second title in Rome is officially on!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.