Medvedev responds to Zverev's criticism
After losing to Holger Rune 3-6, 4-6 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters on April 14, Medvedev still mentioned his third-round opponent Alexander Zverev. "Zverev is living in his own world," he said. "When he says someone isn't playing well, he should look at himself in the mirror."
The incident started when Zverev said Medvedev was one of the "most unconventional" tennis players in the world, after the third round match in Monte Carlo. "I attach great importance to fair play, sportsmanship. Medvedev does not," Zverev shared with Eurosport after losing to Medvedev 6-3, 5-7, 6-7(7) on April 13. This match, the German tennis player shook the hand of the winner, but did not look at Medvedev's face.
The cause is said to come from Medvedev going to the toilet in the middle of the third set. The Russian player reported the incident: "I led 3-2 and had five break-points, but he saved them all. Then I won the serve game and led 4-3. I went to the bathroom, and when i came back i lost two games he had a chance to serve to win the game and he kept saying that going to the bathroom made him play worse when zverev lost we could find 25 interviews questions about him, where he said some strange things".
Medvedev also said he was ready to apologize if he didn't play well, but not against Zverev. He admitted guilt when he spoke badly about the match with Diego Schwartzman at the 2020 ATP Cup. "I'm at fault and maybe he won't like me like before," Medvedev shared. "I'm sorry that Diego - a very nice guy and plays nice - feels that way about me. Zverev is not like that. He is not like Diego and some other players like Casper Ruud or Andrey Rublev."
Referring to his ATP Tour colleagues, Medvedev also said he is good friends with about 90 players, including a great relationship with 50. Despite sharing Russian parents, Medvedev revealed that he and Zverev were never really close friends as adults. Before that, the two players had a good childhood relationship in the youth tournaments. "During some of his congratulatory speeches, he spoke as if he were a friend of mine and my wife," Medvedev said.
When losing to Rune on April 14, Medvedev pretended not to look at the face and shake hands with his Danish juniors like what Zverev used to do with him. Later, Medvedev said to Rune the word "unfair", with the implication of praising Rune for playing well but also mocking Zverev.
Medvedev and Zverev have faced each other 14 times on the Tour. Among them, Medvedev won eight matches. The Russian tennis player said he did not consider the incident to be a big problem if Zverev simply lacked restraint in his temper. But if Zverev continues to see him as a bad player, Medvedev will come and talk directly to his opponent. "If he continues to say that, I will go to the dressing room and tell him to discuss what is wrong," the Russian tennis player shared his intention. "We may never talk again, or be enemies. But at this point, I don't really care."
