He’s a value chat, Daniil Medvedev. The No.3 seed was in splendidly cheery form as he mused on the sundry delights of Wimbledon. Let there be no doubt: he loves the place.

“I definitely feel like every time you come here, it's the same feeling, especially the first day,” glowed the No.3 seed.

“It was the same for me in juniors [in 2013, when Medvedev was 17]. The first day you come, you're like: ‘Wow! That must be the best place in the world!’

“Every flower seems to be in the right order, the right colour. The locker rooms are unbelievable, food is great, the atmosphere around the site itself… First day you always say: ‘Wow, that's the best tournament'."

So what could possibly dampen this nirvana? Step forward the culprit, whose name is defeat. In four visits to Wimbledon, Medvedev’s best has been reaching the last 16 in 2021.

“When you lose, you go crazy,” he explained, grinning as he spoke. “You're like: ‘Nooo! I played so bad!’ That's why I want to try to make it an even happier place for me.”

Four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman has no doubt it could happen.

“Medvedev has won a title on grass [Mallorca 2021] and been a finalist twice more on the surface,” explains Henman.

“If he reproduces that at Wimbledon, he’ll go deep in the tournament. He hits flat so he’s well-suited to grass. He’s been world No.1 and has won a Slam title [the US Open 2021, defeating Novak Djokovic and thus preventing the Serb capturing the calendar Grand Slam] so he knows what’s required and he’s definitely among the players to look out for.”

There is even a complex formula by which Medvedev might theoretically regain the world No.1 spot for the first time since August last year. If he lifts the men's trophy, and Carlos Alcaraz loses in the first week, and Djokovic succumbs before the last eight. It’s not overwhelmingly likely, you understand. But possible.

He opens his campaign against the 20-year-old British wild card Arthur Fery, ranked No.389. Naturally the odds are in Medvedev’s favour – but it is only a month since he tripped at the first hurdle at Roland-Garros, courtesy of qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild, now ranked  No.131. This despite arriving in the French capital fresh from capturing the title in Rome.

“The first two Slams of 2023 were not as I expected,” said Medvedev, who fell in the third round at the Australian Open to Sebastian Korda.

“This can happen. So I have even more goals for Wimbledon to try to show my best tennis.”

But his preparation has not gone smoothly, with defeat in his opening round in ’s-Hertogenbosch to No.43 Adrian Mannarino, although he made the quarters in Halle.

It has been a peculiar year, given that he won Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai on the bounce, and was runner-up to Alcaraz in Indian Wells before commanding the field in Miami. It is difficult to know quite what to expect from him at Wimbledon other than boundless enthusiasm.

“I feel I can play well on grass. Last year I made two finals in the three tournaments that I played. Just need to find my way, find my rhythm. I always said, I love playing this tournament. First time here, I was so nervous going on the court. Since then, every time coming back, I feel really, really special to be able to play.”

Last year that wasn’t possible, and Medvedev missed it profoundly.

“I was definitely disappointed,” he said. “It doesn't give me extra motivation, no. But the fact that Wimbledon for the moment is my worst Slam in terms of results – I want to try to improve it, I want to try to play well. Yeah, I have big goals for this year.”

New this year:

See the draw like never before, with interactive Path to the Final view of the draw by clicking a player’s name on the draws page

See the projected Path to the Final of every player in the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ singles draws with IBM Likely to Play

View how favourable or difficult a player's draw is, with IBM AI Draw Analysis