Alexander Zverev defeated the first top three player on Wednesday, and the next one is scheduled to follow on Friday. A task that is at least as difficult.
It took a short time for Daniil Medvedev to realize what he had just achieved. Then he sank to the ground and lay there like a dead fish before he got up and accepted his opponent’s congratulations.
The Russian will never forget September 13, 2021. To date, this date marks the greatest success of his career, winning a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. Since that day he has been able to call himself the US Open winner. A great success, and not against anyone.
Medvedev defeated Novak Djokovic, who was almost invincible at the time. The Serb traveled to New York with three Grand Slam triumphs under his belt. A man on a mission to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the Grand Slam. Medvedev stood in the way, won 6:4, 6:4, 6:4 in three sets – and destroyed Djokovic’s biggest dream.
Duel of hardcourt specialists
More than two years later, the Russian is still holding on to that one Grand Slam title. He has so far been denied another major triumph. The 27-year-old wants to change that in Australia. To do this, however, he has to beat Alexander Zverev on Friday, in whom Carlos Alcaraz, current number two in the world, met his match in the quarterfinals.
Zverev versus Medvedev: It’s a duel between two hardcourt specialists. Together they have reached six Grand Slam finals so far (Medvedev five, Zverev one) – all on hard courts. Medvedev has already reached the final twice in Australia, both times he came up short. Unforgotten to this day: the dramatic final against Rafael Nadal two years ago, when, despite leading the set 2-0, he still had to admit defeat to the top Spanish spin giant after 5 hours and 24 minutes.
The duel between the two top 10 players also has an explosive history. The two have already faced each other 18 times on the ATP tour, with Medvedev leaving the court as the winner eleven times. If you just look at last year, the statistics look even clearer – in Medvedev’s favor. Zverev only won one of six meetings.
Special history between Zverev and Medvedev
The most turbulent duel between the two took place in April 2023 at the ATP Masters in Monte-Carlo. Zverev lost after three sets in an incredibly close round of 16 on clay 3:6, 7:5, 7:6 (9:7) – and let off a lot of steam after the match.
“He is one of the best tennis players in the world, but he doesn’t win with tennis. He is one of the most unfair players we have in the world,” Zverev criticized his opponent. Among other things, Medvedev removed a net support during a break and used other distractions and took a long toilet break.
Medvedev is fighting with all (legal) means. In the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2022, he argued with the referee towards the end of the second set and even attacked him verbally (“Are you stupid?”).
Zverev has to be prepared for these “mind games,” says his brother Mischa, who, like his friend Sophia Thomalla, is there and supports Zverev from the box. “The punches won’t be pretty, they won’t be quick. The spectators will be a factor. For him it’s about not being distracted,” the 36-year-old predicted on “Eurosport” about a close duel. “Sascha has to stay cool and do his thing.”