‘Real deal’ Daniil Medvedev ‘in same mould’ as Novak Djokovic, claims former British number one

Greg Rusedski believes Daniil Medvedev will learn invaluable experience from the Australian Open and thinks it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the new World number one.

Now 21-time Grand Slam titlist Rafael Nadal prevented reigning US Open champion Medvedev from becoming the first player in the Open Era to win successive Slam titles.

Despite being injured for five-months and contracting Covid-19, Nadal overturned a two set deficit to sink Medvedev’s dreams of a second Grand Slam.

Medvedev also encountered another of the ‘Big Three’ when he overcame 20-time Slam champion Novak Djokovic at the US Open to win a maiden Slam.

As such, the Russian has been hot on the Serbian’s tail as he chases Djokovic’s World number one position. If Medvedev had held out against Nadal in the ‘Happy Slam’ final, he would have surpassed Djokovic as the World number one.

Djokovic was denied the opportunity to defend his Australian Open crown after his deportation and subsequently lost the 2,000 ranking points he earned after winning last year’s event.

1997 US Open finalist and former British number one Greg Rusedski has said he is impressed by Medvedev’s character and personality and has likened him to Djokovic.

In his column in The Telegraph, Rusedski wrote “you are also beginning to get the feeling that this next generation is starting to believe they can beat them (the ‘Big Three’ of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic).

“Medvedev will learn from this experience. I like his swagger and how he is willing to be his own personality. He is in the same mould as Novak and is the real deal.

“It is a question of when, and not if, he becomes the World number one. But the ‘Big Three’ do still have that magical aura. What they have collectively done over these last two decades is almost impossible. Phenomenal. Their records are insane.

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