Daniil Medvedev, across his impressive career, has been one of the unfortunate casualties of a generational changeover.
After all, he emerged during the height of the Big Three’s dominance, and despite their steady decline, now has to contend with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Last night, it was the latter who thwarted him in the Indian Wells final, and he spoke at his press conference about any comparisons that might be made between him and the three greatest male tennis players of all time.
Daniil Medvedev on Jannik Sinner comparisons with the Big Three
The Russian began by admitting: “Yeah, they’re all very tough challenges. I unfortunately didn’t play Roger yet when I established myself in the top 10. I was just coming up. And I do think he would be a tough opponent for me.
“We can never know, in a way, but the three matches, I think three matches I played, I lost.”
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Then, focusing on Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as well as Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev went into more detail: “So they’re all different, they’re all different players, and Jannik is different from Carlos, and Carlos is — they’re all different. So of course the tactic is tiny bit different.
“Playing Jannik is a bit different from playing Carlos. And of course Rafa is completely different, because he’s a lefty and has this crazy spin.
“They’re all very tough to play against. That’s why they all have a lot of Grand Slams, Jannik and Carlos a bit less for the moment, but if nothing extraordinary happens, they’re going to have a lot. A lot, how many, we don’t know. They are very tough challenge because they demand to bring the best out of you.
“And probably, if we look at my career, well, I’m worse than them, but I try my best to challenge them when I have this opportunity. Sometimes it works, and that’s what I’m going to try to continue doing.”
In another interview after the match, Sinner actually explained what he got wrong in the Indian Wells final, despite beating Medvedev. His unrelenting desire for perfection is frightening.
Jannik Sinner makes tennis history with Indian Wells title
What further supports Sinner’s claim to be compared to the Big Three is the fact that he continues to make tennis history.
His latest title in the California desert marked yet another iconic moment for him, further cementing his place in the sport’s history books.
Will Daniil Medvedev ever win another Grand Slam title?
He became the first player ever to win consecutive Masters 1000 events without dropping a set, with the Paris Masters late last year transitioning into this Indian Wells triumph.
It will be intriguing to see whether he can maintain such form with Miami just around the corner.
