Medvedev can't take it anymore: "No pleasure in being on the pitch".
Daniil Medvedev just can't take it anymore. Having enjoyed a solid, if highly erratic, season, the Russian no longer seems to have his head in the game. Beaten by Taylor Fritz in his first match of the Masters (6-4, 6-3), Medvedev appeared frustrated and resigned in his press conference.
Confident that he was looking forward to his vacation, he said: "I wasn't surprised to see Taylor competing with me in the exchange. The balls mean that anyone can do it now. So I'm not surprised at all.
This is what I've been doing every day, day after day, for the last two or three years. Every training session is a struggle. Every match is a fight. I stood my ground for a long time. Now I don't feel any pleasure in being on the pitch.
So I'm not at all surprised by today's game. I can't wait for the season to end. It's the first time I've said that. Usually, ATP finals aren't easy for me.
The only time I've won it was in 2020 when I started my season at the US Open (season interrupted by the Covid), so it's a bit different. But I'm still fighting. As I said, I've been fighting for a long time with something that doesn't depend on me.
I'm a great fighter. I'm still number 4 in the world. Maybe 5 if Taylor plays well here. It's still very good. I'm sure a lot of people would like that.
But now I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of fighting something that's out of my hands.
I'll see how it goes. Today, I had my chances. I'll have them in the next few matches. If it doesn't work out, I'll go on vacation. I'm happy."
ATP Finals 
