![\"Daniil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/medvedev-sinner-alcaraz-turin-2024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Player Features
\n Medvedev on Sinner & Alcaraz ‘Big 2’ Era: \u2018Never underestimate a third guy\u2019 <\/p>\n
29-year-old exclusively discusses shifting landscape with ATPTour.com<\/p>\n
August 08, 2025<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Corinne Dubreuil\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Daniil Medvedev is one of three players to earn wins against both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at major tournaments.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
There was a time not so long ago when Daniil Medvedev<\/a> emerged as the potential flag bearer of a new generation.<\/p>\n After being suffocated early in his career by the late stages of the ‘Big Three’ era, he was the man who halted Novak Djokovic<\/a>‘s bid for a historic calendar-year Grand Slam in the 2021 US Open<\/a> final. Six months later he became the first player since 2004 other than Roger Federer<\/a>, Rafael Nadal<\/a>, Djokovic and Andy Murray<\/a> (added as a member of the ‘Big Four’) to rise to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. <\/p>\n But it didn\u2019t take long for the Big Three era to give way to the duopoly of Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> and Jannik Sinner<\/a>, who have combined to win the past seven majors. Now 29, and knowing that he can’t wait them out, Medvedev has vowed to do all he can to avoid another near shutout of Grand Slam titles in coming seasons. <\/p>\n \u201cJannik and Carlos are playing amazing, they are the top two at the moment and they are playing better than everyone else, but never underestimate a third guy who is going to come and challenge them,\u201d Medvedev told ATPTour.com.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot of talk about this: \u2018How is it possible that no one is close to them?\u2019 Carlos, when he was 17, came on Tour and everyone was like \u2018How can he hit so strong? I can practise 10 hours a day and not hit that strong.\u2019 So, when he has the days that he can\u2019t miss \u2014 and he has them a lot \u2014 there is not any chance for us. It\u2019s the same for Jannik, he\u2019s a really strong player.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a typically sharp and measured assessment from one of the game\u2019s most thoughtful tacticians. Medvedev has always been a student of the sport, forced to adapt and analyse to achieve success in arguably the toughest era of men’s tennis. Now, while Sinner and Alcaraz have taken centre stage, Medvedev knows how quickly the landscape can change.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember Roger and Rafa: When Rafa was 20, 21, he had already won two or three Roland Garros<\/a> titles,\u201d recalled Medvedev. \u201cThey were talking about this time when he won Wimbledon<\/a> for the first time, and it was his first Grand Slam outside of Roland Garros<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThen at this point, when everyone thought they were going to share all the Grand Slams, there was this one Serbian guy who came a little bit later and won more than them.\u201d<\/p>\n In the six Grand Slam finals (1-5) that Medvedev has contested, he has faced Djokovic three times, Nadal twice, and most recently Sinner at last year\u2019s Australian Open<\/a>. Despite that, he is one of just three players to have earned Lexus ATP Head2Head wins against both Sinner and Alcaraz in major tournaments.<\/p>\n Still, 2025 has been far from smooth. A two-time major finalist in the past two years, Medvedev has failed to make it past the second round at any Slam this year, falling early in Melbourne, Paris and London.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s funny because many people ask me about Jannik and Carlos, but at the moment this year, I haven\u2019t played them in the Slams, I\u2019ve played much worse,\u201d said Medvedev. \u201cThat\u2019s a bit of a \u2018good\u2019 problem for me, because I want to be there where they are, in the fourth round or quarters. I actually don\u2019t think it will be tough for me, because it was already tough. I managed to do it once against Novak.”<\/p>\n Medvedev understands that, stylistically, the challenge posed by this new wave is unique. While his counterpunching, flat-ball style can neutralise pace and frustrate aggressors, Sinner and Alcaraz bring a different level of athleticism and raw firepower that can often blow through defenses \u2014 his included. Yet he knows their invincibility isn\u2019t absolute.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are strong players, but at the same time, they both can lose sometimes,\u201d he says. \u201cFor example, Jannik lost against Sascha [Bublik] in Halle and Sascha won the tournament. Carlos lost against Botic [Van de Zandschulp] just less than a year ago\u2026 Every time when you are on the court with them, you need to try to win.\u201d<\/p>\n This year, however, Medvedev has struggled to reach those matchups often enough. After a string of inconsistent results, the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals<\/a> champion has slipped to 19th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, aiming to qualify for a seventh consecutive year.<\/p>\n![\"It](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754721126_61_it-all-adds-up-banner.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\nJannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev<\/a>” style=”width:100%;” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2025\/07\/25\/10\/00\/medvedev-sinner-wimbledon-2024-handshake.jpg”>Daniil Medvedev<\/a> beats Jannik Sinner<\/a> in five sets at Wimbledon<\/a> in 2024. Photo: Getty Images.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alexander Bublik” style=”width:100%;” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2025\/08\/08\/17\/39\/bublik-medvedev-halle-trophies-2025.jpg”>Alexander Bublik<\/a> defeats Daniil Medvedev<\/a> for the 2025 Halle title. Photo: Thomas F. Starke\/Getty Images.<\/p>\n