World number three Dominic Thiem admits he has faced a new challenge in getting ready for the US Open this week.
The Austrian, who is eyeing a first grand slam title, was knocked out in his first match at the Western & Southern Open last week – the warm-up tournament that was played at the same Flushing Meadows site.
Normally after such an early exit, a player would swiftly move on to the next city, but being stuck in the bubble has presented new problems.
"I think I see also some positives, I mean, something that we have not experienced so much and obviously pressure is there when you're facing a break point or you have to win a match."
Third seed Daniil Medvedev is hoping to go one better this year, after agonisingly losing in last year's final.
The Russian nearly sprung a surprise in 2019 when he took Nadal to five sets, but the 24-year-old is not looking to the past.
"Of course, it was an amazing match. I mean, the only grand slam final I had," he said. "But also as a person I always try to look at the present and the future, try to work to have the best future, let's say, in the tennis world. Don't think so much about the past.
"Of course, sometimes I do remember it. It was a great match, great fight, great level. I mean, against Rafa, he was on top of his form. I need to also remember this sometimes, just play the same tennis."
