Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and the different ways of dealing with the major title
Daniil Medvedev is back on the big tennis stage after his US Open triumph and we will be serving at the Laver Cup on Friday. Dealing with the major triumph seems extremely professional.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 24, 2021, 07:42 am
Daniil Medvedev quickly tried to escape the hustle and bustle surrounding his first triumph at major level, put on radio silence and said goodbye on vacation: Only after a few days did the newly crowned Grand Slam winner report with an Instagram photo from the well deserved vacation. The Russian only offered room for discussion with a new haircut.
Now, almost two weeks after his biggest career title to date, the world number two is back on the big tennis stage. At his premiere at the Laver Cup, the 25-year-old will also lead the field at the show event - and will undoubtedly be largely responsible for the continued existence of Team Europe's clean slate in the show battle with Team Europe.
Only Thiem and Medvedev from the 90s generation are successful
In any case, according to Medvedev at the obligatory media event in the course of the exhibition tournament, the US Open victory did not change anything for him in terms of perspective. "It's just a goal that I achieved that not many other players could achieve. It's great because I've dreamed of it since I was little," said the Russian. It is something that no one can take away from him now. And that very few players besides him could achieve it.
In the 1990 generation or older - primarily due to the reign of the "Big Three" - only one player ever managed to win a major tournament before Medvedev: Dominic Thiem. The Austrian was unable to defend his previous year's title in Flushing Meadows 2021, a wrist injury made it impossible for the Lichtenwörther to compete. And put the crown on a messed up playing year.
Thiem with drive problems
The 28-year-old had struggled after his first major triumph, after fulfilling his lifelong dream, as Thiem had emphasized on several occasions, and could not take his good shape into the calendar year 2021. After the bitter round of 16 defeat Down Under, nothing at all wanted to run together for the Austrian. Which had to end early in 2021 without winning the title.
In the spring of 2021, Thiem, who was taking another break after having performed poorly at the desert events in Doha and Dubai, with the situation he is currently in, had his problems to look for new goals. The goal in life, the great drive, was done. The greatest triumph is not a relief, but an inhibition threshold. In any case, the 28-year-old now has time to set new goals - Thiem often mentioned the French Open victory here - due to the break.
Medvedev and Thiem with different circumstances
Time that Daniil Medvedev doesn't seem to need. The world number two showed a few days after the US Open triumph already full of drive, full of hunger for more big titles. "Now I want to play even better and win more titles, be it Grand Slams, Masters-1000 or Laver Cup. That's how I approach things," explained the Russian , who will also have a strong say in terms of number one position in the future want to have a say.
In dealing with the major victory, Medvedev also benefits from the circumstances compared to Dominic Thiem. Last year, the Austrian had to start mental (and physical) preparation for the French Open the day after his final success, the major season 2021 after Medvedev's triumph is history. In any case, this is not a disadvantage, as can already be seen dimly.