Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter from Miami, and I’m here to give you the scoop on what’s happening in the world of tennis. Today, we’ve got some big news that’s got everyone talking, especially with the ATP Finals in full swing.
Daniil Medvedev’s Challenge Against Jannik Sinner
The ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, have been heating up, and one of the most intriguing matchups has been between world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev and the young Italian sensation Jannik Sinner. On Thursday, their Round Robin finale ended with Medvedev handing Sinner a 6-3, 6-4 victory, marking his fifth loss to Sinner on the main level this year.
This loss is part of a larger trend where Sinner has dominated their recent encounters. Between 2020 and early 2023, Medvedev was on top, winning each of their first six meetings. However, since then, Sinner has won eight out of their last nine clashes. One of Medvedev’s most painful defeats came earlier this year when he lost the Australian Open final from two sets up against Sinner.
Medvedev acknowledged the challenge Sinner poses: “I would say it’s both (tiring and challenging). I lost first round in Bercy, so in a way it doesn’t count. First time I was not in his quarter or semi, he withdrew. Not one time against me (smiling). Look, he’s barely losing this year. If you want to win a title, you will face him at one moment. It’s not easy to beat him. A lot of people try. A lot of people fail. There is mostly one guy who does it a little bit more times than the others, and it’s Carlos. Yeah, I mean, he’s a very, very strong opponent,” Medvedev said in Turin.
The Rise of Jannik Sinner
Sinner’s recent success hasn’t gone unnoticed. He recently destroyed 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 6-0, 6-3 at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Turin. However, since it was not an official tournament, it doesn’t count in their head-to-head record.
Medvedev also expressed his surprise at Sinner’s level of play: “As I said, a little bit after Saudi Arabia where he surprised me a lot, I didn’t know he has even this level higher in him. He’s maybe one of the best players I have faced. I faced the big four a little bit when they were a little bit older, and maybe the speed was not the same. So yeah, I’m going to try to work in pre-season. Maybe at one point he loses his confidence, starts to miss some balls. Otherwise, everyone – not only me – is in for a very, very tough years ahead of us because he’s very young,” the Russian added.
The Impact of Attention on Athletes
Sinner’s rise to prominence has brought him a lot of attention. He was welcomed to Turin with a big hype, with his name and face seen on every corner. Some might find this attention distracting or pressuring, but Sinner seems to be handling it well. He concluded the group stage with a 3-0 record.
Medvedev was asked if he felt sorry or lucky for Sinner and responded humorously: “No, I think it’s great. But I would wonder if he would live in Italy how it would be because he doesn’t. It’s a little bit easier (smiling). Yeah, I mean, I think he deserves it. Like everything: the contracts, advertisements, whatever. He’s a good-looking No. 1 in the world, wins a lot of tournaments. Very young, which is always attractive. He’s 23. He has maybe 13, 14 years ahead of him where he can play, play, win, win. So it’s normal. I think he feels fine with it. So why should I be sorry for him…” the 28-year-old explained.
Looking Ahead
Medvedev has indicated that he will continue with his current team in 2025 but plans to try something different in the offseason to see if it will improve his performance against Sinner and other top players like Carlos Alcaraz.
“In the team, no. But in the preparation, for sure we’re going to try to I think really build something a little bit new. I see right now that it’s not good enough, especially against guys like Jannik and Carlos. I’m not sure I will be able to become better, but I will try. I will try to become better in some parts. Again, I feel like if we talk purely tactic, I feel like I played fine. It’s just execution;” Medvedev said.
Conclusion
That’s all for today’s update on the ATP Finals and the intriguing matchup between Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner. It’s clear that Sinner is a force to be reckoned with, and Medvedev will have to find new strategies to overcome him in future matches.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia