“If you wanna annoy your opponent when you play FIFA, you do this one.”
Daniil Medvedev has revealed that his unique celebration when he won the US Open was inspired by FIFA.
Medvedev demolished Novak Djokovic in straight sets, winning 6-4 6-4 6-4 to deny the Serbian the calendar Grand Slam and a record-breaking 21st major.
And when Djokovic put a backhand into the net to give Medvedev his first Grand Slam title, the Russian dropped to the floor, performing the ‘dead fish’ celebration that so many FIFA players will be familiar with.
#USOpen
A win and celebration to remember!When Daniil Medvedev beat Novak Djokovic to win his first Grand Slam title – after two double faults on his first two championship points!
📽️ ESPN pic.twitter.com/ggqEG6GtdX
— The Field (@thefield_in) September 12, 2021
In his post-match speech, the 25-year-old Russian confirmed it was a shout out to the FIFA community and that “only legends will understand, what I did after the match is L2 + Left”.
Post-match celebration inspired by @EASPORTSFIFA?!@DaniilMedwed YOU are a legend. pic.twitter.com/oMoI0Dgjnk
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021
Medvedev elaborated more on the reasoning and thinking behind the celebration in the press conference afterwards, and revealed that he had first thought of the idea when he was playing at Wimbledon.
“One night, I was falling asleep and having some crazy thoughts, and I said ‘okay I’m gonna win Wimbledon, imagine I win it against Novak.’
“To not celebrate is gonna be too boring because I do it all the time, so I need to do something, I want to make it special.
“I like to play FIFA, I like to play Playstation. It’s called the ‘dead fish’ celebration, and if you want to annoy your celebration then many times you’re gonna do this one.
“I talked to the guys in the locker room, and they were like ‘that’s legendary.’ Everybody who I saw that plays FIFA thinks ‘that’s legendary.’
“That’s how I wanted to make it, I wanted to make it legendary for me. It’s not because I want to be in the newspapers talking about FIFA celebrations, I don’t care. But I wanted to make it special, for people to laugh, for my friends to laugh who I play FIFA with.
“I knew I was going to make it, but I got hurt a little bit!”
Medvedev answering @ReemAbulleil’s question about his celebration is a pure joy to watch 😃😂
🎥@usopen pic.twitter.com/IRbLtJNvow
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) September 13, 2021
Iconic stuff. Djokovic had already done his version of smashing the controller though much earlier in the match, getting the anger out of his system.
Djokovic just demolished his racket #USOpen pic.twitter.com/dkKLLAG8dS
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) September 12, 2021
By the time Medvedev pressed L2 + Left, it was just disappointment Djokovic was feeling, not anger.
Related links:
Daniil Medvedev beats Novak Djokovic in US Open men’s final
Hashtag United to receive first-ever transfer fee for eSports FIFA player
