- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,171,235
- Reaction score
- 59
A week ago, Russian pro tennis players Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev were all together hunkered down in a hotel in Dubai, unable to leave do to air travel restrictions caused by the combat and well-documented unrest in the area.
On Tuesday they were all together in an airplane flying from Istanbul to Los Angeles as part of their escape route to the United States for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
On Saturday they were all together again, this time on the second round schedule of the BNP Paribas Open.
After his 6-4, 6-2 win over Alejandro Tabilo of Chile on Stadium Court on Saturday, Medvedev said that he was very happy with how he played and that any lingering effects of the situation seem to be behind him.
Medvedev said that it was not easy to decide how, exactly, to get from Dubai to Indian Wells.
"At one moment we were texting a lot with Andrey and Karen," he said. "So, me and Andrey decided let's go to Oman, let's try to find something there. It was not easy to find, because everyone was trying to leave, and there were not a lot of slots to leave or planes to leave. But we managed find a plane.
"So, Karen joined us, and the next day we managed to fly to Istanbul, and then Istanbul to Los Angeles. It was just longer and a bit more stressful, in terms of logistics, than usual. A lot of time on the phone, which drains you a lot, trying not to be on my phone 24/7, and when you are, it's tiring, physically. Just a bit more tired physically coming here than usual, but I managed to deal well with it.
He added that the preparation for Saturday's match was three days instead of the usual five, but he wasn't complaining, especially with the win.
"It's not like I had one day and I had to play," he said. "So, three days is not bad. It's somewhere in the limit, because 12-hour time difference with Dubai, and our travel was tougher than just a direct flight from Dubai to Los Angeles.
"But I honestly felt great today, so it means that the jet lag is done. I slept well, and I'm looking forward to next matches being 100%, even if I was already today."
More: Medvedev's saga from Dubai to Indian Wells 'like a Hollywood movie'
Medvedev has reached two finals here at Indian Wells, in 2023 and 2024, so this is a place where he knows he can win. With the travel situation behind him, he said that he was able to focus on Saturday's match and he was pleased with how it played out.
"I think today was a great match for me," Medvedev said. "I did everything well. I had zero breakpoints to save, even if some games were a bit of pressure on my serve. I think I put a lot of pressure on him from baseline points. I feel like I was kind of on top of him."
Whether it was the stress of the situation, the fatigue of the travel or all of it added together, Khachanov the No. 16 seed and Rublev the No. 17 seed both lost their openers to unseeded players. Both were supposed to play their first match on Friday but the ATP decided to give them an extra day to recuperate.
It was exactly the wrong matchup for both of them, who faced talented, young rising stars who pushed them to three sets and then finished the match with more energy. Khachanov lost to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 and Rublev lost to 24-year-old Gabriel Diallo of Canada 6-7(4), 7-6(1), 6-3. Both matches lasted well over two hours, Rublev's was almost three.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Daniil Medvedev shares details about Dubai saga following Indian Wells win
Continue reading...
On Tuesday they were all together in an airplane flying from Istanbul to Los Angeles as part of their escape route to the United States for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
On Saturday they were all together again, this time on the second round schedule of the BNP Paribas Open.
Daniil Medvedev speaks about the ordeal
After his 6-4, 6-2 win over Alejandro Tabilo of Chile on Stadium Court on Saturday, Medvedev said that he was very happy with how he played and that any lingering effects of the situation seem to be behind him.
Medvedev said that it was not easy to decide how, exactly, to get from Dubai to Indian Wells.
"At one moment we were texting a lot with Andrey and Karen," he said. "So, me and Andrey decided let's go to Oman, let's try to find something there. It was not easy to find, because everyone was trying to leave, and there were not a lot of slots to leave or planes to leave. But we managed find a plane.
"So, Karen joined us, and the next day we managed to fly to Istanbul, and then Istanbul to Los Angeles. It was just longer and a bit more stressful, in terms of logistics, than usual. A lot of time on the phone, which drains you a lot, trying not to be on my phone 24/7, and when you are, it's tiring, physically. Just a bit more tired physically coming here than usual, but I managed to deal well with it.
He added that the preparation for Saturday's match was three days instead of the usual five, but he wasn't complaining, especially with the win.
"It's not like I had one day and I had to play," he said. "So, three days is not bad. It's somewhere in the limit, because 12-hour time difference with Dubai, and our travel was tougher than just a direct flight from Dubai to Los Angeles.
"But I honestly felt great today, so it means that the jet lag is done. I slept well, and I'm looking forward to next matches being 100%, even if I was already today."
You must be registered for see images attach
More: Medvedev's saga from Dubai to Indian Wells 'like a Hollywood movie'
Medvedev has reached two finals here at Indian Wells, in 2023 and 2024, so this is a place where he knows he can win. With the travel situation behind him, he said that he was able to focus on Saturday's match and he was pleased with how it played out.
"I think today was a great match for me," Medvedev said. "I did everything well. I had zero breakpoints to save, even if some games were a bit of pressure on my serve. I think I put a lot of pressure on him from baseline points. I feel like I was kind of on top of him."
Khachanov and Rublev lose first match after eventful week
Whether it was the stress of the situation, the fatigue of the travel or all of it added together, Khachanov the No. 16 seed and Rublev the No. 17 seed both lost their openers to unseeded players. Both were supposed to play their first match on Friday but the ATP decided to give them an extra day to recuperate.
It was exactly the wrong matchup for both of them, who faced talented, young rising stars who pushed them to three sets and then finished the match with more energy. Khachanov lost to 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 and Rublev lost to 24-year-old Gabriel Diallo of Canada 6-7(4), 7-6(1), 6-3. Both matches lasted well over two hours, Rublev's was almost three.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Daniil Medvedev shares details about Dubai saga following Indian Wells win
Continue reading...
