Daniil Medvedev details why Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner are

5 July، 2024

16 1 minute read

Daniil Medvedev was asked to break down the difference between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner compared to the rest of the top players and the Russian tennis star had a detailed answer on why the Spaniard and Italian have become such strong forces.

While world No. 5 Medvedev has been one of the best and most consistent players for years, it has been extremely tough for him versus Alcaraz and Sinner in the last year and a half.

After beating Alcaraz in their first meeting when the Spaniard was 18 at 2021 Wimbledon, Medvedev has since lost to the Spaniard in four of their last five meetings – all of their last five matches have come since the beginning of 2023.

For years, Medvedev has been known as one of the top defenders on the ATP Tour but even he has had a very hard time taming Alcaraz’s powerful shots and some of their recent matches haven’t even been close. And now, the Russian former world No. 1 admits it is the three-time Grand Slam champion’s strength in shots that causes him the most trouble.

“Carlos has a very big power quality. When he was like 17, he could miss a lot. So you’re like, ‘Ok, he has these crazy shots, but at least he misses,'” Medvedev said of Alcaraz.

“When he’s in the zone now he doesn’t miss much. You could see at Roland Garros in some moments he was missing and struggling, and that’s amazing, because he played two big top players Jannik and Zverev… Even not playing his best and missing. Every time he hit a rocket on the court, the other guy would be in such trouble. That’s his big quality. Very, very strong shots.

“The position doesn’t matter. It’s easy for him to generate power from slow balls… Sometimes many players have trouble… That’s his biggest quality in my opinion.”

Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz © Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney