Daniil Medvedev says he is trying to stay positive on the court after ending a long wait for a Grand Slam win at the Australian Open. The former world number one beat Dutch player Jesper de Jong in the first round, stopping a run of early exits that included first-round defeats at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
The Russian, who is known for his emotional outbursts during matches, said he has made a big effort to change his mindset. His straight-sets win in Melbourne continued a strong start to the season, following his title victory at the Brisbane International, and showed signs that his calmer approach is paying off.
Medvedev admitted last season was tough, with his ranking dropping sharply and frustration often boiling over on court. However, he believes his problems were more mental than physical. After splitting with long-time coach Gilles Cervara, he has brought in Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, and says the new team has helped him move forward. Medvedev now hopes to build on this win when he plays Quentin Halys in the next round.
