Daniil Medvedev admits it ‘didn’t smell good’ as he mounts amazing Miami comeback

Daniil Medvedev’s interviews rarely fail to disappoint and he was at his quirky best after he beat Dominik Koepfer to move into the Miami Open quarter-finals.

The match appeared to be turning against the No 3 seed as Koepfer raced into a 4-0 lead in the first set tie-break, yet the always unconventional Medvedev found a way to win that set.

Then, he turned on the afterburner to blow his German rival away, with the lopsided scoreline hard to explain.

Yet in a jovial interview with the Tennis Channel, Medvedev explained how he found a way to overcome the conditions.

“I think sometimes it happens when you lose the first set the way he lost it,” said Medvedev, when asked how the match turned so quickly.

“He played very good and was probably closer to winning it because of the 4-0 in the tie-break and when you lose such a set, especially when the points were tough, it brings your energy down.

“I knew I had to use that in the beginning of the second set. That’s why it was the most important and I managed to do it. Sometimes that happens, but the level was high today.

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“There was one side where it was just a little tougher as it was wind against you and that’s the side I started the tie-break.

“So I knew it could be a little tougher on this side to play, I wanted to get to 3-3 and then go to the other side and push it.

“Then I was 4-0 down and I was like ‘this doesn’t smell good’. Then I managed to win a couple of points, apply of bit of pressure and I played good after this.

“His level was very high in the first set and he dropped a little bit and I was able to push it.

“You need to play a minimum of two sets at a very high level against me to beat me. That’s a good feeling when you come on court knowing your opponent know it.”

This win gave Medvedev his 350th tour level win, but he admitted his ambitions now are trying to claim some of the biggest titles in the game.

“To be 100 per-cent honest with you, I really don’t care how many wins now,” he said. “It’s about titles now.

“I’m trying to play the biggest tournaments, trying to play the biggest guys and I’m still winning a lot, so it’s an amazing feeling.”

Medvedev also picked out the ATP Tour player he finds hardest to break down, aside from the superstars of the game like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

“If we are saying a guy who hasn’t won 20 Grand Slams, I’d say Alex De Minaur, for sure,” he stated, paying tribute to the Australian battler.

“One time I beat him at the US Open and in the press conference they told me he said his legs were gone.

“I was like, ‘wow, this is good news for me’. To make Alex’s legs go you have to do a good job.

“To be honest, everyone on the ATP Tour is used to dealing with pain. We know how to go through it and just continue playing. I feel like I have matured in this aspect.”

Defending Miami Open champion Medvedev will take on Nicolas Jarry in the last eight, as his defence of the title is gathering momentum with each win.