Daniil Medvedev was disqualified on 5 October in the semi-final in Beijing, against Novak Djokovic, for hitting a ball into a spectator’s head. He had already explained that he absolutely did not do it on purpose. From Shanghai, he told BB Tennis: “I consider myself much calmer in everyday life than on court, because the emotions we go through as female tennis players are intense.”
Female tennis players. He said it. I’m taking it personally.
Because I know that pattern. Sunday at ten, on court 4, I’m not the same person. My intention is clear, my zone is set, and my doubles partner says I “talk to my strings”. At the clubhouse bar afterwards, with my cone of chips, I’m someone calm. She admits it herself. Usually around half past twelve.
He also said he has never fought with anyone, “not even at school”. Neither have I. I only had a technical discussion with a net post in 2019, which wasn’t set at the right height. It doesn’t count, it was equipment.
What people don’t see is the intensity. The level in club league (interclubs, Belgium’s weekend team league) has gone way up, people don’t realise. A tie-break at 5-5 against the Ottignies team, emotionally, is a semi-final in Beijing. With a smaller crowd. And no Djokovic on the other side. But emotionally, it’s the same.
Her partner, for her part, is calm on court and in life. She deserves credit.
My partner doesn’t read the site. She reads my stats folder, which is already a lot.
It’s true, we checked: We Love Tennis.
