Daniil Medvedev teases ‘Specialist’ t-shirts as hard-court swing ends in Miami

WATCH: Medvedev railed against the BNP Paribas Open despite ultimately reaching the final last week.

Amid his many frustrations at the BNP Paribas Open, Daniil Medvedev came away from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden with an impressive result and a new catchphrase.

“I’m a specialist,” at least when it comes to hard courts, quickly went viral when he uttered it in during his fourth-round encounter with Alexander Zverev and may find itself on a t-shirt at some point this year.

“I don’t think it’ll be in two weeks, but that’s something to think about,” Medvedev mused at his Miami Open Media Day press conference. “I’ve had some lines in my career that could totally make it on a t-shirt. Some have actually already made it on a t-shirt already! I’ve seen some fans with shirts saying, ‘This is going to be on TennisTV, bro!’ and things like that.

“I think many things I did in Indian Wells were a bit too much, but it was on the court, so you’re for sure heated up. This one was actually funny though!”

Fresh off an exhibition with good friend Andrey Rublev, Medvedev has been in fine form on his favorite surface since February, when he won three straight titles and finished runner-up in Indian Wells. That officially makes Miami the only 1000-level hard-court tournament where he is yet to reach the final—a stat over which he marveled when told about it in press.

“I wasn’t aware of this. I’d seen one statistic where, if you also include 500s, it’s just Miami, Basel and Acapulco where I haven’t been in the final. In Acapulco, damn, that was close, making the semis, and Basel was also the semis! Those are great stats. I love playing on hard courts. Indian Wells was tough but I’m happy I was able to make the final and for sure, I was disappointed I couldn’t manage to win this title.

“To be honest, I’d love to make the final of every tournament in the world; it’s easier for me on hard courts so far. That’s definitely a fun statistic and hope to only grow these kinds of statistics in the future.”

What stands between the former world No. 1 and a run to the Miami final? Not too much, besides the tricky conditions.

“Miami can be pretty brutal but the thing is that I usually play good even if I don’t feel good.

“I do remember that last year I was a little bit sick at the beginning of the tournament and I played with Hubi [Hurkacz]. I think that was the hottest day and I was suffering a little bit, and it was funny because after the match and going to the locker room disappointed with yourself that maybe I could have done better physically.

“You go under the AC and feel better and then five minutes later, I had full body cramps, like I couldn’t walk for 15 minutes. I was like, ‘Ok, at least I know I couldn’t have done better, physically.’ It happens to everyone sometimes, but I hope it’ll be the same every day and not where it’s super cool and then hot. That’s where your body can have that reaction.”

Medvedev will put his body—and his hard-court specialty—to the test on Saturday when he opens his Miami campaign against Roberto Carballés Baena.