Why Medvedev’s Momentum Looks Set To Continue Indoors

Daniil Medvedev’s recent run on the outdoor hard courts of North America has catapulted the 23-year-old to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP Rankings and earned the Russian a maiden spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in London.

But before claiming his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Cincinnati, Medvedev’s two most recent tour-level trophies had been lifted on indoor hard courts, proving that the US Open finalist can be just as dangerous with a roof above his towering 6’6” frame.

Eleven months ago, the Moscow-born star lifted his maiden ATP 500 title indoors at the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. Medvedev dropped one set in seven matches from qualifying in the Japanese capital — defeating three Top 20 players — including two-time titlist and home favourite Kei Nishikori in the final.

The five-time tour-level titlist, who has already lifted indoor silverware this year at the Sofia Open in February, owns a Tour-leading 22 victories over the past 52 weeks on the surface according to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone. The Russian will be hoping to add to that tally at the St. Petersburg Open, where he will be competing for the first time since reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open.

Most Indoor Victories Over Past 52 Weeks

With ATP 250 indoor hard-court events in St. Petersburg and Metz this week and a further seven indoor events through the Rolex Paris Masters, the ability to earn victories indoors could prove crucial in the ATP Race To London.

In fact, the three players who own the best winning percentages indoors over the past 52 weeks (after 10 or more matches) are all in contention for a spot at the elite eight-man event at The O2 in London.

Best Indoor Win Percentage Over Past 52 Weeks (Played 10+ matches)

With a 14-3 record over the past 52 weeks, Gael Monfils owns the best indoor winning percentage according to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone. The Frenchman has lifted five of his eight ATP Tour titles indoors, including his most recent crown at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in February. Monfils currently occupies 12th position in the ATP Race To London after reaching the quarter-finals at the US Open.

Monfils is closely followed by Alexander Zverev, who currently sits at 10th place in the ATP Race To London. The 22-year-old has not played indoors since stunning Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in back-to-back matches to lift the Nitto ATP Finals trophy last November.

In third and fourth place are the Russian duo of Karen Khachanov and Medvedev. Both players will be aiming to improve their winning percentages in front of home fans at the St. Petersburg Open this week, with 19th-placed Khachanov eager to make up ground on his rivals in the ATP Race To London. As the top two seeds at the event — with a combined four indoor trophies over the past 52 weeks — the pairing will try to set the first all-Russian final in the tournament’s history.