Daniil Medvedev marvels at “legendary energy” of Serena Williams ahead of US Open

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NEW YORK—For Daniil Medvedev, Serena Williams is inexorably linked to the sport that became his career, discussing the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s legacy at length during his Media Day press conference.

“When I took the racquet for the first time, I was 6, I don't remember when I started watching tennis on TV. Let's say half a year later, one year later,” explained the world No. 1, setting the stage for a group of enrapt journalists. “Okay, there are these tournaments, Grand Slams, biggest tournaments in the world. Serena was already there. I'm not sure she was No. 1 in the world. She was together there with Venus sharing Grand Slam finals, both winning a lot. Serena was starting to win a little bit more already.

“’Okay,’ he thought. ‘She's the strong woman in the world in tennis right now. That's cool.’

Medvedev played his first Grand Slam main draw at the 2017 Australian Open—when Serena would break the Open Era record previously set by Stefanie Graf by defeating sister Venus in the final—and despite becoming a big name in his own right, the top seed remains in awe of Williams’ inimitable aura.

“It's just legendary,” he said. “Every time I saw her in person, she just has this legendary energy around her, which I guess is not easy to live with, because that's why everybody is a fan of her. Maybe Paparazzi. You come around here, and you're like, ‘I'm a fan,’ something special. She for sure has and will have an amazing legacy in tennis.

“I'm sure in hundred years we're still going to talk about Serena Williams.”

I'm sure in hundred years we're still going to talk about Serena Williams. Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev contrasted Williams’ magnetism with his own evolving relationship to tennis fans, one that arguably reached rock bottom following his Australian Open defeat to Rafael Nadal in January.

“It was not easy what happened with the crowd there. I also was the reason, reason what happened. It was not easy for me to kind of settle down and think, ‘What did I do wrong, what should I maybe change in terms of perception of things?’ Many different thoughts like this.”

His major breakthrough at the 2019 US Open was also peppered by frosty interactions, though the 26-year-old believes the fullness of his character has led to a growing number of fan support.

“I do think if you look at Daniil Medvedev only on the tennis court, only as a tennis player, maybe it's not that easy to like him or me as much because, I mean, my technique is a little bit odd. My game style is probably not the most flashiest, but that's because I want to win. When I was young, when I was 18, I was hitting the ball as hard as I can. Maybe people would love it more, but, yeah, I probably would not win a Grand Slam.

“But I do feel like when I interact with my fans, if they know little bit more of who I am in real life, they start to like me more. I would think my personality together with what I am on the tennis court, what I am straight afterwards in interviews or my personal life, is what makes some people a fan of Daniil Medvedev.”

Medvedev will have a chance to win over the US Open crowd in his first round, in what will likely be another uphill battle against American Stefan Kozlov on Monday.