Russian ATP star Daniil Medvedev once praised his wife, saying, “it’s great that she understands tennis.” While the former world’s number-one is well known for his tennis brilliance, not many know about Daria Medvedeva’s connection with the sport. Recalling how she is “one of the most important members” of her husband’s team, the Russian ATP star delved deeper into how she helped him grow professionally despite having to end her own tennis dreams.
Medvedev is all set to play his semifinal match against Carlos Alcaraz today at the Center Court. Excited about the match-up, Medvedeva, who has a past with the sport herself, found fans curious about her history, which now helps her husband. Hailing from Russia like her husband, Medvedeva was also a tennis player when she was young.
It was tennis that connected the fates of these two. Medvedeva recalled meeting her husband in a café close to the tennis court when she was just 12. Despite her dreams of going pro, Medvedev’s wife had to end her tennis career following a saddening injury. “She played tennis until she was 17 or 18, but because of injuries she couldn’t reach the desired level,” said Medvedev in a previous interview.
Regardless, “it’s great that she understands tennis,” the ATP star further said how his wife’s knowledge in tennis helped him to improve his professional skills. “Perhaps it’s not easy to get used to it when you don’t understand anything in tennis. It helped me to become better as a person and a player,” said Medvedev. After their childhood meeting, Mr and Mrs Medvedev met again in 2014 and started dating, which ultimately resulted in a beautiful marriage in 2018.
Daniil Medvedev’s revelations about his wife Daria Medvedeva’s tennis career showed how the latter lives her tennis dreams through her husband. Despite ending her career and becoming an entrepreneur cum journalist, Medvedeva turned all the stones to show her support for her husband. Her ATP star husband previously also recalled how marriage helped him to become more dedicated to his professional career.
The former world’s number-one has always been vocal about his wife’s contribution to his life. Medvedev once revealed in a press conference in Washington, “She’s one of the most important members of my team.“ Mentioning how Medvedeva gave him “a lot of confidence“, he further said, “I always say that it’s the moment I made the proposal to her, that’s when I started to go up. It was at this moment – it was after Wimbledon – I was, I think, 65 or something like this, and at the end of the year, I was already 15.”
Daniil Medvedev’s statements about his wife Daria Medvedeva’s support warmed the hearts of millions. More than that, it inspired people by giving examples of being supportive partners. Despite being forced to end her tennis career, Medvedeva helped her husband grow professionally and earn more feats in the sport that she also passionately pursued once.
Daniil Medvedev and Daria Medvedeva’s story is reminiscent of Roger and Mirka Federer’s, as they had a similar story, with Mirka having to give up her career due to an injury. Her and Medvedeva’s journey shows how a a person who loves tennis can find other avenues to stay in touch with the sport and help others flourish.
