The Russian Daniel Medvedev did not want to settle things with the French public after the defeat experienced in his first fight with Paris Masters 1,000 against Grigor Dimitrov and, after leaving the track, offering a momentary comb-over in public, he assured the press: “I’m just looking at my nails.”
“Why would you do that gesture to the wonderful audience of Bercy“,” said the world number 3 with apparent irony, minutes after confronting the stands to the point of earning a warning from the referee.
Middle finger from Daniil Medvedev while leaving the court? 😬
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Although Medvedev, who was trained by the French Gilles Cerveraalso had a conflict when Roland Garrosbut he was especially critical of the public at the indoor Masters 1,000.
“It’s not related to France, I think it has something to do with this tournament, my behavior and the public. “I have a lot of French friends and they don’t seem to like this tournament, there must be a reason for that,” the player said.
The Russian, winner in 2020 and finalist next year, in conjunction with the pandemic years without fans in the stands, launched another attack: “I play better without an audience. I can tell you that not everyone wants to play here. Some “They do. But the only time I’ve won was without an audience, it doesn’t connect with me here. I played much better at Bercy when there was no one,” explained Medvedev.
“There are other tournaments I’d rather go to before this one. If there wasn’t an audience here I played monster tennis. I hope that changes,” he insisted.
After losing the first set 6-3, the tone rose between Medvedev, known for his mood swings, and the Bercy audience. Whistling after throwing his racket as he allowed Dimitrov to come back from 5-2 to 5-5 in the second set, the Russian told the referee: “I’m not going to play when they blow the whistle.”
“You have to play. The longer you go without playing, the more it bothers them, the more they hiss,” replied the latter.
“You idiots! If you don’t whistle, I’ll play!” Medvedev continued.
“Hey, don’t whistle, I’m playing, guys, shut your mouths, okay!” he directly addressed the audience.
“I don’t play like that! I didn’t do anything to whistle,” insisted the world number 3, champion in Paris-Bercy in 2020.
The argument earned him a warning, but it didn’t stop him from winning the second set. Dimitrov, regardless, won the match in the third set.
“When I throw my racket I have the right to whistle, the reaction is bad, but if I’m serving and they whistle and clap at the same time, it’s a bit strange,” the Russian also said.
Assisting in the project of moving the Masters 1,000 from Paris to the Paris La Défense Arena, Daniil assured that he will “come back” even if the tournament remains in Bercy.
“Paris-Bercy remains a legendary tournament, with many great winners, of which I am one, and even if I stay here, I will come back and try to do my best,” he concluded, believing that it is always possible to “make the best possible game and put the public on my side.”
Source: La Verdad
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