Daniil
Medvedev was asked if a rival had ever "cheated" him, and Taylor
Fritz was mentioned in an interesting anecdote by the former world No. 1. The
Russian advanced to the third round of the
US Open after defeating Fabian
Marozsan 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5).
After
defeating the Hungarian, Medvedev commented that he now has a better
relationship with Fritz, although they are not friends. The anecdote dates back
to a practice session at
Wimbledon about five years ago.
Medvedev and Fritz reflect on misunderstanding from Wimbledon practice
The 2021 US
Open champion has quietly advanced in the tournament. The Russian achieved
victories against Dusan Lajovic and Marozsan, reaching 370 wins on the ATP
Tour. Although Medvedev was not widely considered a favorite, the eliminations
of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz make him a strong contender for the title.
In a press
conference, Medvedev was asked if a player had ever cheated him during
practice, to which the 28-year-old recalled an experience at Wimbledon several
years ago: "I have one funny story. I don't know if Taylor remembers it,
Taylor Fritz. If he can tell it, you can ask him next press conference from his
side."
"We
played Wimbledon. It would probably be 2018 or '19. So long ago. We both were
not where we are right now. Brutally honest, I don't want to cheat on practice,
but you know, sometimes you don't see the ball," Medvedev commented.
"It's like a challenge. Today I asked to show replay, and the ball was so
much in, and in my head it was really close. Okay, it happens."
"So
we're playing, and I don't remember exactly what it was, but I called some out
where I thought the ball was out," he added. "Then my wife - I think
at the time she was even maybe a girlfriend to me - talks to me after the
practice and says that he was talking to his coach and was like, 'Damn this
guy, he cheats all the time.'"
"I was
so shocked because I really, especially on practice, I honestly don't really
care if I win in practice set or lose. I always try to win, but whatever. To be
honest, out of everyone on the tour I don't think anyone on practice wants to
cheat. So he was, like, apparently not happy with me."
Daniil Medvedev at 2021 Wimbledon.
The
American is already in the fourth round after defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli,
Matteo Berrettini, and Francisco Comesaña, all in straight sets. After
defeating the latter, Fritz referred to Medvedev's claim: "Yeah, I heard
about this. I don't fully remember it. I think if I said something... I feel
like I remember that maybe he just gave me a bad call. I do it all the
time."
"Like
if someone makes a bad call in practice, I'll turn to my coach and be like, ‘he
just hooked me so bad there’ or ‘gave me such a bad call’. I don't really care,
I know no one's trying to do it on purpose. I make a comment, like yeah, that
was a really bad call," the American No. 1 said. "But if that
happened, that's what happened. I wasn't -- I wasn't, like, 'Oh, he's cheating
me so bad'," he added while smiling. "Definitely, it's not
that deep."