Daniil Medvedev admits US Open rival accused him of cheating - 'We are still not friends'
Daniil Medvedev shed light on a contentious practice session with one of his fellow players.
Daniil Medvedev has revealed that one of his rivals thought he was “cheating” during a practice session.
The world No. 5 explained that he gave Taylor Fritz the wrong impression after making some contentious decisions when they were calling their own lines.
Speaking after his second-round win at the US Open, Medvedev said he was now on better terms with the American though added: “We are still not friends.”
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Medvedev has been flying somewhat under the radar at this year’s US Open. Despite being a former champion, the fifth seed has barely come up in conversations as a title contender. But he’s always catching attention with his quirky interviews.
It was no different after the Russian beat Fabian Marozsan on Thursday, as he shared an entertaining anecdote during his post-match press conference. Medvedev was asked whether he had ever experienced cheating during a practice match with another rival.
And he revealed that he had previously been accused of the offence after hitting with Fritz earlier in their careers. “I have one funny story. I don't know if Taylor remembers it, Taylor Fritz. If he can tell it, you can ask him next press conference from his side,” Medvedev started.
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“We played Wimbledon. It would be probably 2018 or '19. So long ago. We both were not where we are right now. Brutally honest, I don't want to cheat on practice, but you know, sometimes you don't see the ball.
“It's like a challenge. Today I asked to show replay, and the ball was so much in, and in my head it was really close. Okay, it happens. So we're playing, and I don't remember exactly what it was, but I called some out where I thought the ball was out.”
While Medvedev didn’t intend to lie about Fritz’s shots, his now-wife overheard the American branding him a cheat after hitting together. The 28-year-old continued: “Then my wife -- I think at the time she was even maybe a girlfriend to me -- talks to me after the practice and says that he was talking to his coach and was, like, Damn this guy, he cheats all the time.
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“I was so shocked because I really, especially on practice, I honestly don't really care if I win in practice set or lose. I always try to win, but whatever. To be honest, out of everyone on the tour I don't think anyone on practice wants to cheat. So he was, like, apparently not happy with me.”
The former world No. 1 couldn’t clear the air at the time because he didn’t have a relationship with Fritz, and he was interested to hear his rival’s side of the story. “At the time we didn't really speak to each other. So we were not like friends. We're still not friends, but I think we're in a good relationship,” he added.
“So, yeah, that was the story. I was a cheater, I guess. You can ask him about this if he remembers anything. It was Wimbledon practice. But if not, I think no, nobody really wants to cheat.”
But there’s no bad blood between the two, even if they don’t have a friendship. “It's not a big deal, whatever. Pretty funny. After practice I was, like, Really? I didn't try to cheat or anything, but yeah,” Medvedev said.
