Daniil Medvedev has delivered a stunning insight into his mindset during the Australian Open final, following a five-set loss to Rafael Nadal on Sunday night.
The 25-year-old was on top early in the match, taking out the first two sets, but allowed Nadal back into the contest during the third set after some uncharacteristic errors.
Medvedev appeared to be struggling with the heat, as well as a raucous crowd inside Rod Laver Arena, who were firmly behind the Spanish legend.
But speaking to the media after the five-hour classic, Medvedev went on a lengthy monologue about his journey to world No.2, before admitting he had 'stopped dreaming' during recent years.
"I‘m not going to explain why exactly, but today during the match I understood that I’m going to play tennis -- actually it’s funny. I was talking about journalists, but I really like talking to you guys, I think you can see it," he said.
"That’s not really the point. I’m just talking about few moments where the kid stopped dreaming, and today was one of them. I’m not going to really tell why.
"From now on I’m playing for myself, for my family, to provide my family, for people that trust in me, of course for all the Russians because I feel a lot of support there.
"I‘m going to say it like this. If there is a tournament on hard courts in Moscow, before Roland Garros or Wimbledon, I’m going to go there even if I miss the Wimbledon or Roland Garros or whatever.
"I‘m just going to give one small example.
"Before Rafa serves even in the fifth set, there would be somebody, and I would even be surprised, like one guy screaming, C‘mon, Daniil. A thousand people would be like, Tsss, tsss, tsss. That sound.
"Before my serve, I didn’t hear it. It’s disappointing. It’s disrespectful, it’s disappointing. I’m not sure after 30 years I’m going to want to play tennis.
"The kid that was dreaming is not in me anymore after today. It will be tougher to continue tennis when it‘s like this.
"The kid stopped dreaming. The kid is going to play for himself. That’s it."
Medvedev engaged with the crowd throughout the tournament, and labelled them 'disrespectful' during an interview of one of his early-round matches against Nick Kyrgios.
Sunday night however was clearly the culmination of two weeks' worth of frustration - and Medvedev believes it may have something to do with his nationality.
"I think nationality plays a key - it‘s just that Russian tennis was a little bit down for some time," he said.
"I think I’m trying really, I feel there is a lot more buzz about tennis in Russia right now with me, Andrey, Karen, Aslan doing big things. That’s great. Hopefully we’ll try to get more people to go for us.
"But yeah, I can definitely see when you playing somebody from the other country, they would go for them and not for Russian or something like this."
As for the tennis itself, Nadal's gutsy effort to come back after losing the two first sets - especially after recovering from a career-threatening foot injury - was nothing short of remarkable.
Medvedev paid respect to the 21-time grand slam winner, but admitted he wasn't that disappointed about the loss.
"If we talk about tennis, I’m not that disappointed," he said.
"It was a huge match, for sure some small points, small details that I could have done better if I wanted to win - but that’s tennis, that’s life.
"It was a huge match. Rafa played unreal. Raised his level. I mean, two sets to love up, I was like, C‘mon, just go for him, go for more.
"In fifth set, I was like make him run. He was unreal. He was really strong, like the way he played, at four hours I was even surprised.
"Of course, we know how Rafa can play. He didn‘t play for six months. He told me after the match that he didn’t practice so much. It was unreal.
"Talking about tennis, I have not much regrets. I‘m going to try to continue my best. Yeah, I’m going to work even harder to try to be, yeah, a champion of some of these great tournaments one day.
"I‘m not really disappointed with the loss and with my tennis or with anything like this."
