"That's why he's been Number One before and won a Grand Slam": Boris Becker lauds Daniil Medvedev for having multiple plans to beat Zverev

ATP
Saturday, 27 January 2024 at 15:00
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Boris Becker lauded former World Number One and US Open champion, Daniil Medvedev for having a plan A and plan B in defeating Alexander Zverev and reaching the final of the 2024 Australian Open while also lamenting the demise of his compatriot.
Becker spoke to Eurosport Germany and said that it was no wonder he has accomplished what he has done in his career and that he was able to change his plan on the fly to get the maximum out of it against Medvedev.
"He [Medvedev] reached a level that he then didn't leave. With Sascha, there were waves of emotions between world class and unforced errors. At some point, that shows in the result," said Becker to Eurosport Germany.
"In the first two sets, his [Medvedev's] playing position was too passive, too far behind the baseline. He was able to change that in the third and fourth sets and generated much more pressure as a result.
"He not only had a plan A, but also a plan B - that's why he's been number one before and won a Grand Slam."
But while he praised Medvedev, this also came with him lamenting the demise of his compatriot Zverev who he says couldn't put it together over a sustained period after a good started.
"I'm a bit sad and disappointed," Becker said of Zverev's demise.
"It started so well for Sascha Zverev, who fought his way into the match and then won the first set. He played well in the second. In the third, you thought Medvedev was tired and couldn't go on.
"Overall, he [Zverev] perhaps made too many unforced errors in the end - the statistics don't lie. 70 unforced errors are simply too many. Especially if you look at when that happened - at the end of the fourth and in the fifth set.
"He actually played world-class tennis over four hours, but unfortunately not in the last few minutes.
"Medvedev was not the better player, but the more solid one. He didn't make so many unforced errors."
But in the final despite lauding praise on Medvedev, he sees Sinner as being the favourite to scoop a maiden Grand Slam.
"I think Sinner is the favourite, especially if you look at Medvedev's playing time so far.
"He's played over 20 hours of tennis so far, Sinner has always come through in three sets until the semi-finals."

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