The Russians talk about each other in press after both reached the Round of 16 at the US Open on Day 6.
Two Russians are into the round of 16 at the US Open, as Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev both powered through in convincing fashion on Day 6, and as they took their turns in press, reporters had fun learning more about the history of the pair, which dates way back to their junior days.
“First memories is easy,” Medvedev said when he was asked about his early memories with Rublev after his 6-3 6-3 6-2 win over American JJ Wolf. “I think we played a match when we were like maybe 12 years old, both of us, or 11, and we were one of the worst juniors in terms of attitude that you could see.”
Medvedev said that the both of them had trouble keeping their emotions in check.
“We were crying, throwing the racquets over the fence,” he said. “We were young, of course, so we hated to lose. I was doing only lobs at the time, only lobs. Him, I don't think he was hitting the ball as hard as right now. It was crazy matches. That's the first memory I have.”
We asked Rublev what he felt made Medvedev such a special player and he was quick to describe many characteristics of last year’s US Open runner-up.
“Daniil, yeah, he have amazing serve, amazing return,” Rublev said. “Has amazing legs. Unbelievable fighter.”
“His style of the game is really, really unusual. So you cannot rush with him. He forces you to play not your style of the game. He force you to play a little bit slower. He force you to wait more, to play longer rallies. Many players maybe in one moment after one hour playing this type of game, type of style, they start to stress, they start to give up, they start to rush, they start to go for the shots, try to play shorter rallies, and in the end they miss more than they make.
“In the end, it's amazing style of the game of Daniil. That's how he become top 3.”
Medvedev says the key to Rublev’s rise in 2020 is his consistency.
The 24-year-old has been nothing but consistent in 2020. He has won two titles and carries an 18-4 record into his round of 16 encounter with Matteo Berrettini.
“We knew he can play amazing tennis, just unbelievable tennis, but if he was not there yet meant he was not as consistent as he could have been,” Medvedev said. “Now he's really consistent. Every tournament he plays he does good. The start of the year was amazing for him, so hopefully he will continue like this.”
