Daniil Medvedev’s funny question to Novak Djokovic: ‘When are you planning to slow down a bit?’
It wasn’t to be for Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 US Open final, but he still managed to deliver one of his classic on-court interviews following his defeat to Novak Djokovic.
If he is not sarcastically thanking the crowd for not supporting him during matches, he is berating spectators for constantly shouting “vamos, vamos, vamos”.
There were no issues with the fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium during his three-set defeat at the hands of Djokovic on Sunday, but he did poke fun at his rival.
Despite being 36, Djokovic continues to dominate the sport and he won a record-extending 24th Grand Slam and Medvedev wanted to know when his rival will slow down.
“I want to ask Novak, what are you still doing here?” he said in jest during the presentation ceremony. “Jokes aside, it’s my third final, maybe not the last I hope. Novak will probably be in many more – I don’t know. When are you planning to slow down a bit?
“Congrats to you and your team on 24, I feel like I had not a bad career and I have 20 titles and you have 24 Grand Slams. Wow.
“I was here two years ago when I won and I thought what a great [wedding] anniversary for my wife. Today not really. Our anniversary is the same date then and today so I thought come on, do it one more time.
“I want to thank everyone who supports me through this sometimes tough, sometimes easy, sometimes happy and sometimes sad journey.”
Medvedev beat Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final while he lost against Rafael Nadal in the 2019 final in New York. The Russian also finished runner-up at the 2021 Australian Open to Djokovic and the 2022 Melbourne Park edition to Nadal.
Playing against the greatest players of all time is no easy job and he feels Djokovic has pushed him to another level.
“From one side I can say I beat Novak in a Grand Slam final, that is the pinnacle of my career so far. But I played five finals against him and Rafa [Nadal] and I only managed to win one of them so I don’t know if it’s good or bad [rivalry],” he said.
“He pushes me to be better, I said in Australia that we met when I had played five finals and he was super kind to me. He treated me normal and he still does, 12 Grand Slams, 24, 30, nothing changed. That’s something great you can say about a person.”
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