Medvedev: "The new generation is very strong".
Daniil Medvedev is hoping to regain his confidence. After a blank 2024 season in terms of trophies won, the Russian player experienced disillusionment at the season's first Grand Slam.
Facing Learner Tien in the second round of the Australian Open, the world No.7 fell to the Next Gen ATP Finals finalist, losing at 3am in five sets (6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6) after serving for the match.
Before starting his ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam against Stan Wawrinka, the 2021 US Open winner gave an interview for the official ATP website.
The former world number 1 spoke about the new generation, embodied by Tien, but also João Fonseca, winner of the Next Gen ATP Finals at the end of December.
The 18-year-old Brazilian also knocked out Andrey Rublev in his first Grand Slam main draw match in Melbourne.
"I think it's normal for a new generation to appear on the circuit. There are young guys coming up who are already beating top 10s in Grand Slams.
Against me, Learner (Tien) had played a very good match, and he was able to win his third round even though we'd finished our match at 3 in the morning.
So that shows he was physically ready and that's a good sign. With this new generation, there are a lot of very good young players.
Some generations see more players break through earlier than others, but that's why there will always be excellent players on the ATP circuit.
We'll see what they can achieve in the years to come, but there's no doubt that the new generation is very strong," Medvedev elaborated.
