"When you play Jannik and you're not at 110% you can play okay and still lose 6-2" - Daniil Medvedev answers how hard it is to solve Sinner puzzle
ATPSunday, 17 May 2026 at 03:00
From the match not ending last night to having to return today, Daniil Medvedev lost out in three sets to Jannik Sinner who will contest the Rome final today against Casper Ruud.
But just how hard is it to face off against Sinner? Medvedev had the answers as he spoke in his post semi-final press conference that having any semblance of an off day isn't really possible against a player of the caliber of Sinner.
Medvedev will of course know better than most given that the Russian has tangled with Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray over the years so lived in the era of the so-called Big Four. “It’s a nice feeling to play such good tennis. Even in the first set, I didn’t think I played that badly, but when you play Jannik and you’re not at 110 per cent, you can play okay and still lose 6-2.
“I managed to raise my level in the second set and, even today, I’m happy with how I fought at 30-all and saved a couple of match points on my serve.
“So I’m happy with the level, disappointed to lose. In terms of confidence, every week is a new week. It’s good to play at this level before Roland Garros, but it’s going to be a new journey there, so let’s see what it brings.”
During the Australian Open, there were complaints about players calling for treatment when cramping and Medvedev said that he has a solution and that is to allow it. He said amid Sinner having issues cramping and his own experience with it before the match was curtailed.
“Actually, no. First I wanted to say it’s impossible to solve, but I actually have a solution.
“Allow medical treatment for cramps. Allow physio treatment for three minutes when you have cramps, then there is no problem. Because at the moment it’s not allowed, so I completely understand that if you start cramping — and maybe he was, I have no idea — what you do is ask for the physio and say you have a small pain in the leg.
“I probably did it as well in my career and then you try to use this time. So if medical treatment was allowed for cramps, there would be no problem. That’s the solution.”
Discussing physical issues in the locker room
He also spoke about whether players discuss physical issues in the locker room amid Jannik Sinner's problems. “No, we definitely don’t talk about this in the locker room. We try not to discuss tennis like that. I mean, we don’t watch a match and say, ‘Look at his back, it’s so bad, everyone should go there.’ At least I’ve never discussed this with anyone.
“But look, it’s very tough to play him. To win a point, you need to hit a lot of shots, and I try to win points by hitting a lot of shots. I don’t know if maybe there was something else, but the points were physical. It was tough for me as well.
“Whenever I play Novak, it’s a bit the same. Novak many times struggled physically against me. Against Rafa, I struggled physically too, but it’s the same story — we played many shots because that’s how I play as well.
“I don’t think there’s more to it than that. Whenever someone is good enough to play Jannik in baseline rallies — because there’s no other way to beat him — it’s going to be a struggle for both players.
Daniil Medvedev competing in an exhibition event in St Petersburg, Russia
“We saw in Monte Carlo that he was struggling there as well, but he still won. His struggles are not a problem for him winning matches. But your only chance is to play these 30-shot rallies and try to win them, and then both players are going to struggle physically.”
He also spoke about whether he sees himself as the third best player in the world instead of the World No.9 after his run. “In Rome maybe — in Monte Carlo, no. I’m just trying my best.
“I think in the Race I’m probably fourth behind Zverev and the other two guys. I’m just trying my best and we’ll see in the end.
“The goal is definitely to be in Turin because before it was almost automatic for me — I was playing well and making Turin — but last year I wasn’t there. So the goal is to get back there and keep up the level I found in Madrid and Rome.
“In Madrid I played well but lost to Cobolli, who played a great match. I want to repeat this level at Roland Garros and then play well on grass too. If I finish the year No. 3, I’ll feel amazing about the season, but we’re still far from there. Sascha is playing unreal and his results are much better than mine right now, so I’m happy to be No. 4 in the Race at the moment.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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