US Open champion Daniil Medvedev declared on Saturday that he is mentally and physically ready for the Australian Open and capable of beating any-body.
The Russian second seed looms as the player to beat if Melbourne title-holder Novak Djokovic loses his fight against deportation from Australia. Djokovic is still in the men’s draw for next week but faces deportation after the Australian govern-ment cancelled his visa for a second time, calling the unvaccinated Serbian a threat to public order.
Medvedev is feeling comfortable in his own skin having blown away the world number one in straight sets to win his first Grand Slam crown at the US Open last year.
The 25-year-old is confident of going one better after losing to Djokovic in last year’s Australian final.
“I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for the Austra-lian Open,” Medvedev told reporters, two days be-fore the first Slam of the year.—APP
