CNN
 — 

Daniil Medvedev revealed one purpose behind his unbelievable type this 12 months after winning the Italian Open: new racket strings.

The Russian world No. 2 has been utilizing a special model of Technifbre strings and mentioned the change to his recreation has been “unbelievable” since making the swap forward of the Australian Open.

He has now received 5 titles this 12 months – the most in his profession – and Sunday’s 7-5 7-5 victory in opposition to Denmark’s Holger Rune in the Italian Open remaining marked the first trophy he has captured on clay.

“I think the strings help me … because they are just softer so the ball goes easier,” Medvedev advised reporters after defeating Rune.

“Straightaway in Australia actually where I lost, with my coach we were like, ‘Wow, I have the easy depth on the ball, which is amazing,’”

“In Australia, it didn’t work. I was 100% doubting myself. Should I go back to the old ones, I was playing good with them? I said no, let’s try more. Now it’s unbelievable.”

After a one-hour, 40-minute delay on account of rain in Rome, Medvedev battled via a decent first set in opposition to Rune, saving two break factors at 2-2 earlier than securing the essential break at 6-5 when he raced to the internet and pounced on a drop shot.

The 20-year-old Rune responded with two breaks in the second set to take a 5-3 lead, however from there Medvedev asserted his baseline dominance and received the subsequent 4 video games to wrap up the win.

Having received most of his titles – together with his US Open triumph in 2021 – on onerous courts, victory on clay at the Italian Open is a breakthrough second for the 27-year-old Medvedev.

Following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the French Open final week, the second grand slam of the calendar 12 months is tough to foretell with World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and 22-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic main the males’s singles draw.

But Medvedev, who has by no means progressed past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, will really feel assured. He needed to defeat the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev throughout his Italian Open marketing campaign and has climbed 5 locations in the males’s rankings this 12 months.

“This one is special because I didn’t think it was going to be able to happen, (that I was) going to be able to make it,” he mentioned of his newest title.

“I still kind of don’t believe – not that I won it, but that I played so well this week. I don’t believe it. The way I played, I’m really happy. Happy to have this trophy back home in some time.”

The French Open takes place from May 28 to June 11 and Medvedev, whose floor strokes look stronger than ever earlier than, has emerged as a powerful contender.