Medvedev Out Of Moscow: ‘I Must Do What Is Best For My Body’

Daniil Medvedev is human after all. The 23-year-old Russian, who reached his sixth consecutive final on Sunday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters (d. Zverev), withdrew from his home tournament, the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow, on Tuesday, citing exhaustion.

The Russian leads the ATP Tour with 59 wins, including 46 on hard court and 22 at the ATP Masters 1000 level, also both Tour-leading figures. Medvedev won his second Masters 1000 title in Shanghai after winning the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati in August.

“Nobody knew that I would do so well in Shanghai to reach my sixth final in a row. I just feel that I am physically and mentally exhausted. I can’t be 100 per cent. As a professional, I cannot step on court knowing that I am not 100 per cent ready to play,” Medvedev said.

“On the one hand, it is very sad, because I really wanted to play in Moscow in front of my home crowd. I’ve played for four years in a row in Moscow and each year my results improved. But, on the other hand, this is how it is. It is professional sport, and I must do what is best for my body. In this situation, I had no choice.”

With the Shanghai title, Medvedev passed Roger Federer for third place in the ATP Race To London. The Russian will make his debut at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

“I feel amazing and have a great mood. I’ve never dreamed about six finals in a row. One of the finals is at a Grand Slam [US Open], three of them are at Masters. [Pass in the ATP Race To London] Federer? It is also something I’ve never dreamed of,” Medvedev said.

He is next scheduled to compete at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, which begins Monday.