"I think it's just part of tennis right now": Medvedev on emergence of booing players after own personal experience

Daniil Medvedev prevailed in three sets over his compatriot, Alexander Shevchenko on Monday evening at the 2023 Madrid Open to reach the Quarter-Finals.

Receiving booing himself at the end of the game, he spoke afterwards and sympathised with the treatment that Holger Rune received against Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina.

"You know, I hit the racquet a little bit after the first set. I was disappointed with some mistakes," Medvedev began.

"So they [the Madrid crowd] started booing. I was, like, yeah, come on, let's do it more. But then when you play a good point you also can put them on your side.

"I actually watched Holger yesterday without the sound, so I thought that something is happening, but I watched it without the sound. So I heard that something happened. I didn't see it.

"I mean, again, it's all about did you deserve it or not? I don't think Holger did anything yesterday. So, yeah, that's disappointing.

"Sometimes you deserve it, sometimes not. Probably, you know, I hit the racquet a little bit, so maybe I deserve it.

"One time I took a challenge, they started booing. 'What, you don't want me to take a challenge?'"

He added saying that it is now part of tennis and adds to the excitement and drama: "I feel like also sometimes the crowd right now in tennis, for whatever reason, I don't know, maybe it was like this before also, comes for this excitement.

"So as soon as something is happening, they don't even know what's happening, they just boo you.

"I experienced this quite a bit. Novak experienced it. I mean, a lot of players.

"I think it's just part of tennis right now.”