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Daniil Medvedev says realizing that Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have haters helped him care less about what others have to say. On February 28th, 2022, Medvedev became the world No 1 for the first time in his career.
In his first stint as the world No 1, Medvedev spent just three weeks. In mid-June, Medvedev reclaimed the world No 1 spot again and stayed there until the end of the US Open. In Indian Wells, Medvedev admitted it felt "great" knowing he was the world No 1 but also acknowledged the pressure of being the top-ranked player in the world.
Medvedev: Djokovic, Nadal & Federer all have haters
"And this pressure of being No. 1, for sure a lot of haters. And that’s normal. Novak has a lot of haters. Even Rafa and Roger somehow have them. You’re, like, how is this possible? They shouldn’t have (smiling).
And that taught me to even less care about this and focus more on myself, on my close people around me, because that’s only way you can stay sane and true to you, to kind of, as I said, to have no regrets. Just because someone said you should have put this backhand in the court, no, you know you did your best and maybe your coach is going to tell you if you should have done something better, and he’s the only person who can kind of tell you this," Medvedev said.
Medvedev did feel extra pressure to deliver while he was No 1 but wasn't 100% sure that his rivals wanted to beat him more just because he was the top-ranked player. "Are the tennis players trying to beat you more when you’re No.
1? I don’t know. I hope not, because it would be better for them if they try to do it every match no matter which number you are at the ranking," Medvedev said.