Daniil Medvedev talks “finding balance” in fatherhood on the road ahead of Miami start

MIAMI, Fla.— With the likes of Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka all headlining the Miami Open women’s draw, it’s been all about the WTA moms during the second half of the Sunshine Swing. But let’s give it up for some of the ATP dads, too—or at least, the wives of ATP dads.

Ahead of his debut at Hard Rock Stadium, defending champion Daniil Medvedev heaped praise on his wife Daria as he opened up about work-life balance and fatherhood on the road.

“As a player, I don’t think (fatherhood) has changed me, to be honest,” Medvedev told press on Thursday. “But hopefully it helps me mature, a little bit. Many times I’m still immature on the court, but I feel like I’m improving slowly every year. That’s my goal.

“In life, hopefully it made me more mature also, more responsible. It’s a big responsibility for sure, to be a father.”

WATCH: Daniil Medvedev praises wife Daria's sacrifices as they raise daughter Alisa on the road

The Medvedevs have been married since 2018, and welcomed daughter Alisa back in October 2022. Daria has been a constant fixture at Daniil’s matches throughout his rise to the top of the ATP rankings—and increasingly, so is little Alisa, thanks to his wife’s “sacrifices”.

“It’s not easy with tennis, because if you want to see your daughter a lot, then your wife has to sacrifice a lot,” he explained. “She has to travel with the baby, and many times it’s her taking the plane and not me. Being on a plane with a baby is not easy. I’ve done it a couple of times, she’s done it ten times more than me.”

With Alisa, now about a year and a half old, visiting more tournaments, fans are getting to see another side of the Medvedev clan and their loved ones: Remember Alisa’s adorable behind-the-scenes moment with godfather Andrey Rublev at the Nitto ATP Finals? Or her hilarious reaction to seeing a poster of dad Daniil in the tournament hallway?

Medvedev says fatherhood has brought out a whole new side of him too, as he now searches for the balance between dad mode and “full tennis mode.”

“It’s a balance. Sometimes my wife sacrifices some of her time and energy to come to the tournaments with our daughter. Me, I have to practice less somewhere, or maybe during the tournament I just have to find the time,” said the world No. 4.

“Before I would be in full tennis mode. Now, I have to find the balance to see my daughter also, otherwise it’s not a good life, I would say!

“I’m trying. I think I’m doing well, but I’m always trying to find this balance.”

No. 3 seed Medvedev will take on Marton Fucsovics in the second round of the Miami Open, as he returns to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since lifting the 2023 trophy.