Tennis Star Medvedev Touts ‘Casino’ as Inspiration for Young Pro

If you ask tennis star Daniil Medvedev, casinos are the destination of choice for someone who has arrived at a good life. 

Rising Tennis Futures

At the Australian Open on Tuesday, world No. 5 Medvedev, after a grueling five-set victory over 23-year-old Kasidit Samrej from Thailand, offered his worthy opponent some presumably encouraging feedback.

“I watched his matches and didn’t see this level, so I was surprised,” Medvedev, 28, said during the on-court interview at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. “If he plays like this every match, his life can be good. Money, girls, casino, whatever.” 

Samrej, ranked 418th in the world, pushed the former world No. 1 to the brink in the first round, taking two sets off the Russian before Medvedev roared back to close out the five-set slugfest 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

“If he plays like this every match,” Medvedev continued. “If he doesn’t, then he’s not gonna have it, not in tennis.”

MORE VIDEO: Attacking the Net?

The match was intense throughout. Though there was some fluctuation at different sportsbooks, Medvedev was between a -5000 and -10,000 favorite to win the match. The over/under for total games ranged from 26.5 to 29.5, and the spread was set in Medvedev’s favor by 10.5 games.

Here’s video of Medvedev attacking a net-mounted camera as he's goes down a set to the possibly casino-bound maybe-phenom Samrej. 

Next, Medvedev plays unranked 19-year-old Learner Tien in the Second Round on Thursday. 

(Image: Joel Carrett / Australian AP / Alamy Live)