Daniil Medvedev, the world number five, acknowledged his ongoing rivalry with world number one Jannik Sinner, despite falling short in their US Open quarterfinal match. While acknowledging his defeat, Medvedev emphasized the positive aspects of their rivalry, stating, “I like it. You know, to have big rivalries like this always pushes me to be better, and sometimes I lose, sometimes I win. I will try to be better next time, and that’s the only thing I can do.”
The two players have faced each other four times this year, with Sinner winning three of those encounters. Notably, Sinner defeated Medvedev in the Australian Open final and the Miami Masters semifinals, while Medvedev triumphed in their Wimbledon last-eight match. Despite losing their latest match, Medvedev felt he played well, stating, “Lately a tough one for me, but compared to some matches I played with him last year when he started to beat me, I felt like I was doing the right things. I just didn’t manage to execute them well.”
Medvedev acknowledged Sinner’s position as the top-ranked player, stating, “He’s one of the best players in the world, by ranking the best, and he deserves it. He’s a tough player to play against. He feels the game well. He chooses the right shot at the right moment many times.”
Despite the recent head-to-head record leaning in Sinner’s favor (6-1 in their last seven meetings), Medvedev still leads their overall head-to-head 7-6. He sees their tight encounters as a positive challenge, stating, “That’s where I actually like to play players like him because that’s where it gets very tight, where every point matters.”
Looking at his overall Grand Slam performance this year, Medvedev considers it to be “quite good.” This includes reaching the Australian Open final, the French Open fourth round, the Wimbledon semifinals, and the US Open quarterfinals. While his 2021 US Open victory remains his sole major title, Medvedev remains focused on improving and closing the gap with the top players, even as the landscape of the game evolves. He acknowledged the shifting power dynamic, stating, “There were always tough guys. Before it was like Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), Novak (Djokovic); now it is Carlos (Alcaraz), Jannik, some other guys. Just have to practice hard, try to improve your game and try to beat them.”
Despite the recent setbacks, Medvedev’s perspective highlights his dedication to continuous improvement and his competitive spirit, which fuels his drive to face and overcome the challenges presented by top players like Jannik Sinner.
