Daniil Medvedev recently shared his thoughts on the “crazy power” of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, suggesting that the Shanghai Masters’ faulty tennis balls give them an extra advantage. Medvedev acknowledged that the two players are among the “best in the world” but emphasized that the balls favor their playing styles. As Medvedev prepares to face Sinner in the quarterfinals, he reiterated his concerns about the balls but made it clear that it doesn’t change his approach, regardless of his opponent.
Medvedev has been vocal about the ball issue since his first-round match, where he criticized the organizers for using balls that get “destroyed after 5 games.” He even wrote “nice balls” on one of the tennis balls as a sarcastic message and showed it to the TV cameras. Despite his frustration, he said he’s trying to adapt to the situation, adding, “I try to do what I can…I’m fighting and I wanna go all the way.” After defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6, 6-3 in the round of 16, Medvedev reaffirmed his determination to keep fighting.
When asked by an on-court reporter if he still believed Sinner and Alcaraz had an advantage with the balls, Medvedev confidently replied, “No… I’ll always fight till the end.” He acknowledged that he and Sinner have had many tough matches in the past and said he would bring his best to their upcoming battle. Medvedev also praised Sinner, now ranked #1 in the world, calling him and Alcaraz “probably the best” players at the moment. However, Medvedev warned against underestimating Novak Djokovic, noting that doing so could backfire. He humorously remarked, “Never underestimate Novak. Soon as you underestimate him, he can bite you back.”
As for Djokovic, he’s aiming for his first title of the season and is set to face Roman Safiullin to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Despite his recent US Open loss, Djokovic’s Olympic gold medal, his ability to overcome injuries, and his coaching changes have reinforced his dominance in tennis. Medvedev, who has faced Djokovic 15 times, acknowledged his greatness and shared that despite Djokovic’s success, he remains kind and humble. Medvedev recalled their first meeting when he was ranked 500th in the world, and Djokovic treated him with respect, a trait that hasn’t changed over time.
Medvedev also reflected on his experience of losing to Djokovic in a Grand Slam final, calling it the “pinnacle” of his career, and credited Djokovic for pushing him to be better. Now, with his focus set on advancing in the Shanghai Masters, the question remains whether Medvedev can overcome Sinner in their quarterfinal match.
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