It is ‘difficult’ to talk about the future of sport

New Nitto ATP Finals tennis champion Daniil Medvedev told CNBC it was “difficult to talk about the future” of the sport, with players still unsure of when – or if – the Australian Open is. will take place due to the impact of the coronavirus. pandemic.

World men’s number four Medvedev, who won the highly prestigious ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London on Sunday, said a lot of uncertainty persisted in the sport.

“(It’s) difficult to talk about the future, because we see with the Australian Open, it’s not easy right now. There is a lot of uncertainty and we don’t know when we will let’s play it, if we ‘you gonna play it,’ he told CNBC’s Tania Bryer.

“Also, every country is different and that’s why tennis is more difficult, because we play in so many different countries and we come from different countries… but we managed to have a very good end of the season.”

The Australian Open is the first major tennis Grand Slam event of the season each year and is currently scheduled to start on January 18, 2021.

Some unconfirmed reports have suggested the tournament may be postponed, but in a statement on Sunday Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said he hoped to announce the date tickets go on sale “within the next two weeks. “.

Medvedev made history on Sunday when he beat current US Open champion and world number three Dominic Thiem to clinch the much-sought title.

After beating the world’s best players, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, on his journey to the tournament final, he became the first player to beat the world’s top three players in an ATP final.

The Russian tennis champion said the match was “one of the biggest wins of my career,” after coming back from a set to claim the title.

The weeklong tournament takes place each November and is the final of the men’s professional tennis season. It has been in London since 2009, but will move to its next home in Turin, Italy, from 2021 to 2025.

As the UK was in the midst of its second nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis, the event took place at the O2, behind closed doors without any spectators.

Asked about the difference in playing without an audience, Medvedev said it was “really unfortunate.”

“I would love to win at the O2 with the spectators, I’m sure it’s even more of a special feeling. Unfortunately… in almost all tournaments we play in empty stands, that is the reality at the moment.

He said the players were trying to get used to it and always put on a “great show”.

“We are always promoting our great sport and it is really good I think. I hope the supporters will come back soon and that it will return to normal,” he added.

With or without the support of the spectators, Medvedev is known for his low-key celebration when he wins.

He told CNBC that this trait has developed throughout his career, including as a young junior witnessing another contender’s overzealous celebrations after winning the first round of a tournament. “The guy was rolling all over the court yelling ‘come on’, hugging his family and friends, which is normal is emotions. But I would be like: Come on, it’s the first lap… it’s not a Grand Slam to win. “

At 24, Medvedev is one of the next generation of players challenging some of the longtime names in modern gaming, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

“It’s not easy because these three are the three greatest tennis players of all time and there is no doubt about it. All the records they have broken are just stunning and no one before could even s ‘approaching their records, “he said.

“So it’s really hard… even if they’re not that young anymore, to beat them and especially in Grand Slam tournaments. So we do our best, we train hard. We win them several times… so I hope that one day we will be able to do it more and more. “