“I don’t feel like I cheated”: Medvedev gave his version of the controversy against Draper in Indian Wells

Controversial and tense ending took place this Thursday, when the Russian Daniil Medvedev (11th) requested a video review by an unusual movement of the British Jack Draper (14th), before winning 6-1 and 7-5 to advance to the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000.

“Now I can talk even more because I have more information. I think I should have done it the moment it happened.“I shouldn’t have waited until the end of the point and then it would have been a little more available,” argued the former world number 1, who would win the point at the start of the second set at 5-5 through a hindrancein a press conference, after getting into the top four of the Californian event for the fourth time in a row.

Along the same lines, the 28-year-old Muscovite, the executioner of the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (40th), the Argentine Sebastián Báez (53rd) and the local Alex Michelsen (44th) in the previous rounds, highlighted: “But if you look at me on my first forehand I do it as soon as it happens. I could have insisted more. It distracted me a little So he said to the umpire ‘what should I do? Should I do it next time right now?’ And she told me that if I wanted I could ask for the video review. And I said yes.”

“And whatever she decides, she decides, and she decided it was a point in my favor. So I accept it. Basically, that’s it. Was he very distracted? No. Was he a little distracted? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? Don’t know“, continued the now pupil of Rohan Goetzke and Thomas Johansson, who was ahead 2-0 in history against the defending champion, after beating him 7-5 and 6-4 at the Masters 1000 in Rome 2024.

Subsequently, the recent winner at the ATP 500 in Dubai emphasized the talented left-hander’s annoyance: “I think so, I mean, it’s more of a question for him because I would be fine after what happened. So it’s more of a question for him. We have a great relationshipso I don’t think an incident like this can change the outcome.especially because if she thought it wasn’t enough it was 15-0 and we moved on. If she thought it was enough, well, then it was 0-30.”

“If you look at my first forehand after what happened, I think I could have done better if Jack hadn’t made that gesture at me. Like I said, was I too distracted? No. Do I feel good about it? The truth is that no. But I don’t feel like I cheated or anything like that.“, confessed the owner of 23 titles at the highest level, who has recorded 17 successes and just three defeats in the current season.

Finally, the Spanish’s next rival Carlos Alcaraz (1st), who stopped the British Cameron Norrie (29th), dominates 6-2 in the head to head and surpassed him in the 2023 and 2024 finals in the Coachella Valley, he closed: “Yes, I got a little distracted. I let it go, I let the referee decide. I’ve had a lot of refereeing decisions in my life and I usually don’t make them well. I guess having one in my favor also feels good“.

All the activity of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 can be followed LIVE on Disney+ Premium Plan.