Medvedev Calls Sinner 'a Machine' After World No. 1 Crushes Him 6-0, 6-3

Sinner Flips Script on Medvedev After Years of Losses: Breakthrough in Beijing 2023 Leaves Russian Doubting His Game

© AFP

Adrien Guyot

le 07/01/2026 à 10h43

2 min to read

Extraits de Dossiers Medvedev Daniil Sinner Jannik

Now a cornerstone of tennis, Jannik Sinner struggled to master the games of certain rivals on tour. Daniil Medvedev was a prime example.

The latter had won their first six encounters against the Italian, dropping just three sets from Marseille 2020 to the 2023 Miami Masters 1000 final. But the breakthrough finally came in the 2023 Beijing ATP 500 final, where Sinner at last found the solution (7-6, 7-6).

In October 2024, Sinner, then world No. 1 after an exceptional season, crushed Medvedev in the Six Kings Slam exhibition quarterfinals (6-0, 6-3). Impressed by his rival's level, the Russian could only applaud the Italian's performance.

"I've never played against someone like Jannik (Sinner) today. When comparing Carlos (Alcaraz) to Jannik, I'm used to saying Jannik is more consistent. He's a machine, while Carlos has ups and downs. But at his best, he's probably a bit better (than Sinner).

« Je ne pense pas que mon tennis était si mauvais, mais j’ai perdu très lourdement »

But I'm changing my mind. I've never played against someone like Jannik. If it wasn't an ace, the ball kept coming back. I missed easy shots because at the start of the match I wasn't missing those but I was getting hit with winning passing shots.

The next times, you know you have to go forward to the ball but you start doubting yourself, you panic and miss. It's a tricky feeling, because I felt good physically on court and my mindset was solid.

I don't think my tennis was that bad, but I still lost very heavily. I can't remember the last time something like that happened to me," he conceded to the press in Riyadh after his elimination.

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Read the full investigation: « Le secret derrière les bêtes noires : le pire cauchemar du joueur de tennis », now available in full on TennisTemple.