Problem Solver: How Medvedev's tennis I.Q. is shaping his parenting

When Plan A hasn’t worked and Plan B is looking shaky, few players are better than crafting a winning Plan C on the fly that Daniil Medvedev.

The important life skill of problem solving when the best-laid plans have gone awry goes far beyond forehands and backhands for the 28-year-old, who is seeded third at the Miami Open presented by Itau. Medvedev says that his parenting approach has been shaped in part by one-year-old daughter Alisa’s inventiveness, which she seems to have inherited.

“I’m not sure if you can develop [dynamic problem solving] or not. This is how I was since I was young and that’s how my daughter is so far,” Medvedev told reporters Thursday in Miami. “Many people around, my parents, my coaches could tell me many different things. [such as] ‘The forehand you can play spin’… I would be like, ‘Okay, I hear what you are saying and I’m going to try, but if it doesn’t work, I’m going to go my own way.’

“That’s how I developed this problem solving, because I always was doing everything my way. People can tell me this or that, but I would go my own way. Same with my daughter, I try to help her and she’s like, ‘I’m going to do it my way.’ And I’m like, ‘Good for you, I like it.’”

A prime example of Medvedev’s solution hunting on the fly came last week at the BNP Paribas Open. Despite dropping the opening set 6-1 to Tommy Paul in the semi-finals, the World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings mounted a comeback to reach the title match.

“During the match, I had my tactic. It didn’t really work and during the match I started to mix it up a little bit and then I found some things where I thought, 'Okay, maybe this could put him in trouble,’” Medvedev said. “He could still win and it was tough, but I found some shots that would be more safe for me and he would not be able to make a winner.”

A 20-time tour-level titlist, Medvedev’s mindset now shifts towards defending his title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami. Boasting a 14-3 season record and aiming for his first trophy of the year, Medvedev opens against Hungarian Marton Fucsovics on Thursday.

“I had two days of practice, I’m feeling quite well on the court,” said Medvedev, who is making his sixth appearance in Miami. “Normally I like the court here, especially last year. It was pretty fast and this year it seems fast too, but I haven’t played on Stadium yet. I like Miami, I’m ready to play and hopefully I can play good tennis.

“Never easy when you play late at the [previous] tournament to go straight to another one. But at the same time, you gain confidence by making the final, so I feel ready.”