Daniil Medvedev has explained why he chewed through 12 pieces of gum during his US Open first-round victory.
The Russian, 30, defeated France’s Hugo Gaston on Sunday inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the second round for the eighth time in his Flushing Meadows career. During his post-match on-court interview with former player Andrea Petkovic, he revealed an unusual hydration strategy that caught viewers’ attention.
“I don’t know why, I was super dry in my mouth. Water was not helping, so the only solution was chewing gum,” Medvedev said. “And I probably watch too much baseball, because for whatever reason, they all chew chewing gum.”
The peppermint-flavored Excel gum was deployed between changeovers, with used pieces stuck to his side of the bench in a quirk later spotted on the match’s live broadcast. Medvedev, who converted four of eight break points on August 30, traced the habit to a period of poor form.
“I was like, ‘You know what, I’m losing all the matches. I need to try to do like baseball guys. I need to change something,'” he said of his decision.
Petkovic had directly asked whether the gum had been “one of the keys today,” noting she had observed him chewing during changeovers. The exchange then shifted to Medvedev’s future in the sport, with Petkovic referencing recent comments in which he had joked about abandoning tennis for pickleball due to the sport’s demands.
“A few days ago you said you were contemplating changing from tennis to pickleball. Where do you stand on that after today’s great performance?” she asked.
Medvedev responded: “Unfortunately tennis takes too much energy and time. Otherwise I would do something else.”
He added: “Maybe not exactly pickleball but I’d exchange tennis… Sometimes tennis, sometimes something else. Unfortunately tennis is a full-time job.”
The former world No. 1 also offered a provisional retirement timeline, saying: “Until I’m, let’s say, 37 and a half, I will be happy to play tennis. And then let’s see what life brings me.”
Medvedev will next face either American Sebastian Gorzny or Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in the second round.