“Probably in my career, Alcaraz is the toughest opponent I have faced” – Medvedev
The Russian has beaten Alcaraz only twice in seven career meetings and also lost their last three clashes
Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz
Image Credit: Action Plus / Panoramic
After going down to Carlos Alcaraz for the fifth time in seven career meetings on Friday, and for the second time in a row in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev called the Spaniard as probably ‘the toughest opponent’ he has faced in his career.
Medvedev started the semi-final on Centre Court on a strong note winning the first set 7-6 before Alcaraz stormed back to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in just under three hours to move into the final.
Speaking to the press in London after the loss, Medvedev described the challenged of facing and beating Alcaraz, who will be gunning for his fourth Grand Slam title on Sunday.
“It’s different game style. I think where Carlos is different from many players, we all have a little bit our preferences, someone prefers defense, someone prefers counterattack, someone prefers to be super aggressive. He can do all of it. He can sometimes slice, even bad slice, and then run and try to win like this,” Medvedev said.
“Hit him an easy shot, and it’s over for you. That what makes it tough. Probably in my career he’s the toughest opponent I have faced. But I have time, I have time to try to do better.”
That’s part of the challenge. And when you manage to beat him, it makes it even more beautiful.
Medvedev, whose next tournament will be the Paris Olympics on clay, added that it was difficult to change tactics in the midst of a match against Alcaraz because the Spaniard imposes his game heavily on his opponents.
“The thing is that he imposes his game so much, and he has the ability to do it because of his power. I feel like I was doing the right thing, and then sometimes by doing the right thing, I would still get three winners in the game on my serve, and that’s a break,” the Russian said.
“You are questioning yourself a lot. Like the return position, today I returned pretty close
to the line, I would say. I broke him three times, but there were two sets where I didn’t, and no break points. So I was questioning myself during the match, do I go a little bit further back? I don’t think it will work against him. At the same time from the close was also not working. So you’re questioning yourself. That’s part of the challenge. And when you manage to beat him, it makes it even more beautiful.”
“Alcaraz doesn’t drop his level. That’s why he is also a very good player” – Medvedev
Medvedev also complimented Alcaraz’s ability to remain intense and focused throughout the match and not letting his level drop.
“The reality is that he is also very strong physically. So even today when there were a couple of tough points and maybe I could have lost my breath a little bit and maybe dropped my level, it always drops by 2 percent when you play a tough opponent, and usually against other opponents maybe their level drops by 5 percent. Carlos doesn’t drop his level. That’s why he is also a very good player.”
