Daniil Medvedev downplays Indian Wells s-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, says young guns still ahead

INDIAN WELLS – Daniil Medvedev said his Indian Wells semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz on March 14 will prove nothing more than a temporary setback for the Spaniard, and that he and Jannik Sinner are playing at a totally different level from the rest of the ATP Tour.

Medvedev beat the world No. 1 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in one hour and 37 minutes to end his 16-match winning start to the year and set up a final against second-ranked Sinner, who brushed aside Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-4.

After being overshadowed for so long by the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Medvedev and his peers have found it just as tough against the dominant duo of Alcaraz and Sinner, who have won 10 of the last 11 Grand Slams.

Asked if the win on March 14 showed the young guns were not completely out of reach, the Russian said he was too old to be thinking about catching them.

“I don’t care too much about these things, because I’m already, first of all, a bit too old. I’m not Next Gen any more,” the 30-year-old told reporters.

“I had a tough year last year, so even more perspective now that I need to do my best, that’s it. Jannik and Carlos are far better than all of us. Only one match we can beat them... they are so good. They are so much better than us.

“Djokovic, Federer, Nadal were so much better than us. But Djokovic, Nadal, and Jannik and Carlos are probably also better than all the ones that were there before. They would struggle against them. It is what it is.”

Medvedev said while Alcaraz would be the favourite every time they meet, he had to go into their matches thinking he can win. He did just that to ruin the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s bid for a third Indian Wells title.

“Maybe I play 10 matches against Carlos, probably I’m going to lose more than I’m going to win,” the world No. 11 added. “But whenever I go on court, I need to believe in myself, I need to do my best, and try to win as much as I can.”

Alcaraz lamented that he was finding it tough to constantly have a target on his back and was surprised by the level of performance from Medvedev, who won six straight points in the tiebreak before serving an ace to close out the match for a Tour-leading 18th win of the season.

“What I’m just getting tired a little bit is to get that target on my back all the time,” said the 22-year-old, whose winning streak had included his triumph at the Australian Open, where he became the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam.

“I have never seen Daniil playing like this. I knew at the beginning that he was going to play aggressive, but how, the way he did it, surprised me a lot. He didn’t even miss.

“I realised that I had to do something different... and he was finding every solution and every answer to my shots.”

Alcaraz refused to be downbeat about the loss and said his opponents were having to deliver their best if they were to stand a chance of beating him.

“I have been playing great tennis, and I just show the players and show the people that if they want to beat me, they have to play at their best level, one hour and a half, two hours in every match,” he said.

Medvedev won four of the five break points he faced and converted the two chances he created. He also won 74 per cent (23 of 31) of his second-serve points.

Sinner said the Russian had found his best form again, heaping praise on his service and returns.

The Italian claimed the 2021 US Open champion has become more aggressive this season, winning trophies in Brisbane and Dubai.

“He’s back to a very high level. Very big serve, I feel like. He’s returning very well, very deep,” Sinner told reporters.

“Everyone’s trying to be slightly more aggressive. Sascha (Zverev) tried to be more aggressive. He didn’t play his best today, but everyone is trying to push.”

Sinner’s clash with Medvedev will be held after the final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina in the women’s event. Both Indian Wells title deciders took place after press time. REUTERS