The world No. 3 also further explained the then-bizarre ending to his Astana semifinal with Novak Djokovic, a match that took place just six days prior to the arrival of his daughter. After dropping an intense second-set tiebreaker, Medvedev abruptly retired from the contest.
“I pulled my muscle and I could feel it straightaway towards the second point of the tiebreak. For five seconds, I thought, “Am I cramping?’ After the point, I was like, ‘No, that’s a strain for sure.’” Medvedev shared.
“That was the first time in my life I felt like this on one exact movement. This one, I felt if I continue the match, I could tear the muscle and you’re out for three months or something.”
At the time, Medvedev hadn’t secured his ticket to Turin. He has now.
With the combination of his Vienna effort, last week’s results and the Paris Masters draw, Medvedev is set to compete at his fourth successive ATP Finals later this month. Before heading to Italy, the Moscow native opens his Paris campaign against Alex de Minaur on Wednesday. Medvedev won this 1000-level event in 2020 over Alexander Zverev and finished runner-up to Djokovic last year.