‘I Can Feel for Naomi’ – Daniil Medvedev Shows Sympathy Towards Naomi Osaka After She Burst Into Tears in Indian Wells

It has been turbulent times for the Australian Open runner-up, Daniil Medvedev. Entering the tournament as the World No.1 for the first time ever in his career, the 26-year-old was aiming to win his first title of the season in Indian Wells. However, Gael Monfils had other plans. The Frenchman defeated Medvedev in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open to cause the upset of the tournament.

Naomi Osaka has been the talking point in Indian Wells. The Japanese tennis star burst into tears after her second-round defeat against Veronika Kudermetova. She was upset with the unruly behavior of the crowd during her match. Further, Medvedev gave his opinion on this incident.

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Daniil Medvedev opens up on Naomi Osaka’s Indian Wells controversy

During the post-match press conference following his third-round loss, Medvedev spoke about Osaka’s incident. He said, “Yeah, I will be honest, I heard it from other people so sometimes it can be a little bit like I didn’t see it by my own eyes and I didn’t watch the videos after so I just heard it from someone who heard from someone so I don’t want to go too much into it because I didn’t see actually what happened.”

Further, he added, “But yeah that’s where you know it’s tough for everybody because I can feel for Naomi. I mean felt not great in Australia. I can feel the fans that maybe gonna say what the hell you know they’re getting millions they should be ready for everything. At the same time where humans will make mistakes, good decisions, sometimes we feel bad, sometimes we feel good.”

Moreover, Medvedev went on to say, ” Life would be easier if everybody would be calm and not angry but same even talking about me I get angry so I should be better also.”

Monfils stuns Medvedev in Indian Wells

It was an exciting matchup, given that Monfils had been in great form this season. The match began with both the players trying to keep things simple. Medvedev and Monfils held their serves until the ninth game of the first set and then the former broke the Frenchman’s serve. Subsequently, Medvedev served out the set 6-4.

However, it was an amazing comeback from Monfils that followed. He broke Medvedev’s serve in the fourth game of the second set. The Australian Open runner-up struck back and broke Monfils’ serve in the very next game. Monfils eventually won the second set 6-3, breaking Medvedev’s serve in the eighth game.

Carrying the momentum into the third set, the Frenchman didn’t let his opponent settle on his service games. Monfils took a 4-0 lead in the deciding set. This advantage proved to be enough for Monfils to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open. He won the third set 6-1. Further, Monfils will take on Carlos Alcaraz in the last-16.

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Following his loss at the hands of Monfils in Indian Wells, Medvedev will slip to the number 2 position in the ATP rankings that will be released on coming Monday. With clay not being his favored surface, Medvedev should aim to bounce back at Miami Masters to remain in contention for that coveted World No.1 spot.

It will be intriguing to witness Medvedev’s run at the second event of the ‘Sunshine Double’.