Daniil Medvedev is back on tour at the Mutua Madrid Open having overcome the COVID-19 he was suffering from in Monte Carlo. The world No. 3 arrives in the Spanish capital at his highest ever ranking after winning the ATP Finals last season, followed by a runner-up finish at the Australian Open and a title in Marseille this year.

The Russian answered questions at Media Day before his third participation in a Caja Mágica where he is still yet to win a match. He will attempt to break his duck against the winner of the clash between Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich and French player Pierre-Hughes Herbert.

How is he feeling after the break?: “I feel fit. I felt some sickness symptoms. It was like a strong cold or something like that and I had a blocked nose a little bit but I had a good one week and a half of practice”.

His priority at the #MMOPEN: “Try my best. When I play good tennis I can win some great matches”.

On his opener in the Caja Mágica: “I’m feeling good. You know of course it will be a little bit tougher than other guys. For example I will be playing maybe Davidovich and he played about five tournaments on clay already. I played zero”.

His record on clay: “The big thing that motivates me is that I know that I’m capable of winning matches. Just need to always find this confidence and this feeling which is tougher for me to find on clay than on hard courts”.

The conditions in Madrid could help him: “It’s more comparable to hard courts here in Madrid because the clay is fast, altitude, serve goes fast. That’s also one of the things that makes me feel more comfortable before the tournament”.