Daniil Medvedev has rediscovered his winning ways at the Nitto ATP Finals, adopting a “just don’t care” approach to silence the noise and regain his focus.
After a disappointing loss to Taylor Fritz in his opening match, Medvedev bounced back with a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over Alex de Minaur. The Russian became the first player this season to not drop serve against De Minaur, who has played 65 matches in 2022.
Medvedev’s newfound mentality was evident throughout the match. He remained composed under pressure, blocking out the distractions and focusing solely on his game. “I found the way by not caring,” Medvedev explained. “Just don’t care. Your boss is screaming at you, just block the noise and say ‘I don’t care.'”
De Minaur was unable to match Medvedev’s intensity, particularly in the opening set. The Australian was broken twice, with Medvedev’s heavy forehand and precise drop shots proving too much to handle.
Medvedev maintained his high level of play in the second set, keeping De Minaur at bay with his strong serve and aggressive groundstrokes. The Russian earned a crucial break in the ninth game with a backhand passing shot, sealing the victory without facing a single break point.
Medvedev’s performance was a testament to his mental resilience and ability to adapt to different opponents. By embracing a “just don’t care” attitude, he was able to silence the noise and focus on his own game, ultimately securing a much-needed win.
