Daniil Medvedev: ‘I had a mouthful of clay, I don’t like to eat clay’

French Open
Daniil Medvedev tennis

World No 2 Daniil Medvedev rued Tuesday’s first-round exit in the 2023 French Open.

Medvedev lost 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (6-8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, who is ranked No 172 in the world.

The defeat came fewer than two weeks since Medvedev won the Italian Open for the first clay-court title of his career.

“Every time the season on clay finishes, I’m happy,” said Medvedev.

“I had a mouthful of clay since probably the third game of the match against Thiago, and I don’t like it. I don’t know if people like to eat clay, to have clay in their bags, in their shoes.

“The socks, white socks, you can throw them in the garbage after clay season. Maybe some people like it. I don’t.”

Medvedev, who has previously been fined for on-court outbursts, cut a frustrated figure throughout Tuesday’s match on the Philippe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros.

“The only thing was when I asked the umpire to check the mark. It was pretty close, in my opinion. I was just discussing with her where does she see the ball and getting booed for whatever reason. I just told them to shut up, and that’s it,” he added.

“I’m not going to look at it back on TV, but my feeling was that he played well. I don’t think I played that bad, but he played well.”

Medvedev praised Wild, who welcomed his first win over a top 10 player.

“His life is going to be better if he plays like this every match. He’s going to get more money, more sponsors, win big titles. But he has to play like this. Not once on the Philippe Chatrier, but a lot of times in different tournaments all over the world throughout the year,” said Medvedev.

Medvedev anticipated returning to Wimbledon alongside other Russians later this year. Tournament officials recently lifted a ban on Russian players. The ban had been imposed last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We cannot control it. If people are going to decide to be harsh, it is what it is. If they’re going to be kind, it’s great,” he added.

“I will be happy if I’m able to come to the United Kingdom to play Wimbledon. It’s not easy to play on grass. I cannot even say I love it, but better than on clay. So I’m going to try to manage to do better this year in Wimbledon than the years before.”

READ MORE: Why Alexander Zverev ‘appreciates it even more’ after first round win at French Open

Daniil Medvedev Thiago Seyboth Wild

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