As he prepares for his fifth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals look, Daniil Medvedev has a rating to settle. The world No. 3 went 0-3 final season in Turin, however that file tells only a small a part of the story.

One yr after profitable two final-set tie-breaks in a runner-up end on the season finale, Medvedev misplaced all three of his 2022 Turin matches in decisive tie-breaks — defeats towards Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However as a former champion, the 27-year-old is just not too involved a couple of repeat efficiency.

“I really feel positively perhaps a bit bit much less stress, as a result of earlier than I gained [the 2020 title], I misplaced three matches in a row,” he identified. “However the identical time, tennis is such a… let’s name it a cyclic factor. Final yr, I misplaced three matches, and three of them have been actually shut within the decisive tie-break, I believe two of them I used to be serving for the match. 

“So for certain this yr coming there, I wish to attempt to be higher. And that is precisely what occurred a few years in the past, once I managed to win it. So let’s hope it may be the identical story.”

Medvedev used final yr’s misfortune as motivation for his offseason, and he rapidly made amends within the early a part of 2023. Throughout a stretch of 5 tournaments from mid-February to early April, he reached 5 finals and gained 4 titles, together with on the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami.

Daniil Medvedev along with his Miami Open trophy in 2023.” />

Medvedev additionally lifted 500-level trophies in Rotterdam and Dubai throughout that interval. He would later add a second ATP Masters 1000 trophy — his first tour-level clay title — in Rome earlier than reaching the US Open closing and advancing to ATP 500 finals in Beijing and Vienna.

“I’ve had a tremendous season on many ranges, however the 500s have been fairly wonderful. I received lots of factors and good wins towards nice gamers,” stated Medvedev, who earned essentially the most Pepperstone ATP Rankings factors throughout the 13 ATP 500s this season.

“I began the yr very strongly by profitable the primary two 500s I performed in Rotterdam and Dubai, in order that opened a giant hole on lots of gamers and I’ve managed to complete robust on the finish right here in Vienna,” he added, charting his path within the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin.

Throughout his Vienna run, Medvedev stated this was in all probability the most effective season of his profession, although he rued the dearth of a Grand Slam title to match his 2021 US Open crown. A second Nitto ATP Finals title would go a protracted solution to consolidate this as a standout season for the baseliner — however he is aware of he should beat a number of nice champions to develop into the singular champion in Turin.

“You play towards the most effective gamers on the planet,” he stated of the season finale. “In order quickly as you go to the third set, and the ending of the third set, it may be robust for each of you, and also you each know the right way to cope with this stress.

“Final yr, I used to be not robust sufficient to handle to make it. This yr, I will attempt to be stronger.”

Medvedev tops the ATP Tour leaderboard in matches gained this season with a personal-best 64 victories in comparison with simply 16 defeats. However ought to he endure a setback towards one in every of his elite foes in Turin, the end result is not going to essentially finish his possibilities on the title because of the distinctive round-robin format.

Whereas he is not going to method the group stage in another way than some other event — aside from the data that he’s up towards the world’s perfect from Day 1 — Medvedev is aware of he may benefit from that second likelihood in his again pocket if wanted.

“I believe what it adjustments is in the event you lose a match, that is whenever you get the second likelihood, which in tennis does not occur besides this event. And that is the one time,” he defined.

“However whenever you go into the event, the most effective feeling is attempting to not lose [each] match, attempt to win each match doable and get to the ultimate like this. However I believe we have now lots of tales the place somebody misplaced the primary match after which gained the entire thing. So that is what makes it this event particular.”