"I can play like on hard courts": Medvedev finding feet on clay
On Wednesday, the world No. 2 meets American Tommy Paul in a scheduled French Open night session.
WATCH: Medvedev stops by for his first Roland Garros TC Desk interview
Now that he's won his first match ever at Roland Garros, Daniil Medvedev wants a few more.
The 25-year-old Russian, who won his opener in straight sets, even joked that it was among his top French Open moments so far. But Medvedev says the conditions at this event suit him, allowing the Australian Open finalist to play his usual game.
"As I say, you could see it today in the match, I'm feeling that here, at least this year with this weather, with these balls, I can play like on hard courts. It doesn't feel different than Australian Open for me coming into this tournament," he told press following his win.
Medvedev went just 1-2 at Rome and Madrid, but said he did not like the type of balls being used.
"I won't say that this ball is bad in general. And only on clay, because I like this ball on hard court. I just couldn't control it. As soon as I came here these balls are much lighter," he said.
Medvedev says he's also back to full fitness since testing positive for coronavirus in Monte Carlo. He returned three weeks later in Madrid but was still getting back to his usual physical level.
"I got injured also before Rome, I pulled my abdominals a little bit. Of course, I didn't say to anyone to try to play a good match," he said. "Coming back, having two, three days off, coming back on the court, I felt that now I'm actually 100 percent."
Medvedev is in the second half of the French Open draw, away from heavy favorites Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Fourth seed Dominic Thiem, a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros and Medvedev's projected semifinal opponent, was also knocked out.
That could create an opportunity for the world No. 2. And his play can still get better, he adds.
"I managed to play consistent today," he said. "I actually played much better on practices still than today, so there is room for improvement."
On Wednesday, Medvedev plays American Tommy Paul in a night-session match scheduled not before 9 p.m. local time.