Medvedev mentioned Sunday that ending his longstanding clay courtroom title jinx was virtually equal to capturing the 2021 US Open.
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The Russian added a primary clay trophy to his 19-title assortment with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Holger Rune within the Italian Open closing in Rome.
It was his fifth title of the season and sixth profession Masters trophy from six totally different venues.
“In a way, it’s the number one career honour,” mentioned the 27-year-old.
“I would never (have) thought I would be able to make this. But I have to be honest — a Grand Slam is always bigger.”
He added: “This one is special because I didn’t think it was going happen, I still kind of don’t believe – not that I won it, but I played so well this week.”
Medvedev, who had been 0-3 in his three earlier journeys to the Italian capital, had knocked out 2017 champion Alexander Zverev and 2022 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas on his solution to Sunday’s closing.
“I didn’t think I could win a Masters 1000 on clay in my career because usually I hated it, I hated playing on it. I didn’t feel good on it and nothing was working.”
The world quantity three, who will rise to second in Monday’s rankings, mentioned he was now warming to the slowest floor within the sport.
“I don’t love clay, but let’s call it a friendship,” mentioned Medvedev after his one-hour, 41-minute win over 20-year-old Rune.
“My tennis love is hard court, but I like clay more now.”
Medvedev shall be seeded second on the French Open, which begins subsequent weekend, behind Carlos Alcaraz with two-time Roland Garros winner Novak Djokovic in third.
“I guess it’s better to be number two — Carlos and I don’t play for sure before the final, and Novak (there is) maybe a 50 per cent chance he’s not in my draw,” mentioned Medvedev.
“At the same time I haven’t been further than the quarters in Roland Garros.”
Medvedev was an opening-round loser within the French capital in all his first 4 visits earlier than making the quarter-finals in 2021 and final 16 in 2022.
On Sunday, Medvedev was enjoying his second clay closing after Barcelona in 2019 the place he misplaced to Dominic Thiem.
Rune was making an attempt to grow to be the youngest participant to win the title in Rome since then-19-year-old Nadal lifted the trophy in 2006.
He defeated Djokovic and Casper Ruud en path to the ultimate and had been hoping to win a second Masters after triumphing at Paris final yr.
Source: www.news.com.au
