Follow us on Google Discover Daniil Medvedev may be showing signs of improved form, but John Isner has suggested that it may be short-lived.
Medvedev won the Almaty Open after beating Corentin Moutet last week, which is his first title in 29 months.
This is also the former world number one’s first title since Medvedev hired new coach Thomas Johansson.
Medvedev used some new tactics in the Almaty Open final, but former Wimbledon semifinalist Isner does not seem convinced by something about the Russian.
Photo by China Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty ImagesJohn Isner explains his concern for Daniil Medvedev after Almaty Open win
Medvedev, who has the fourth most ATP titles for an active player, is currently 29 years old and has dealt with some physical issues recently.
This includes retiring from his match in Beijing, and Medvedev was even left unable to walk in Almaty.
When speaking about Medvedev on the Nothing Major podcast, Isner admitted that he was not sure how his body would hold up as he gets older.
“I worry about it,” said Isner. “I hope I am wrong and I hope he is playing fantastic tennis at 34 years old. Top 10 level tennis, that would be amazing.
“He is a master of his craft, at what he does on the court. But he doesn’t really, in my mind, have the arsenal to be able to change that and be able to implement a crush and rush on a second serve return and put away a volley.
“He does not have the best volleys in the world and does not like coming to the net, so he is so good at what he does, returning serve from 15 feet behind the baseline and playing 15 feet behind the baseline.
“It just seems like he has a lot of miles on his body. He is a skinny guy. He could be susceptible to a breakdown. I hope I am totally wrong, I love Daniil and he’s an incredible player. But the ability for him to change his game style I don’t think is there.”
Jack Sock makes Novak Djokovic comparison when speaking about Daniil Medvedev
Despite being on the same podcast, former top 10 player Jack Sock did not completely agree with Isner’s take.
While he agreed that Medvedev’s game style may have an expiry date, he claimed that he did not think injury would be the biggest issue.
Novak Djokovic has been told his shots no longer have as much impact, and Sock has suggested that Medvedev could have the same issue against the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz.
“I am not sure I would stress about the injury side of it,” responded Sock. “It would be more the play style, just because the younger guys are so much more aggressive and they have maybe a few more things in the arsenal. They can come forward, they are already younger, faster, more athletically at times.
“His body can probably hold up. I’m sure he does the best of the best to stay healthy and stay fit always. But at some point, even Novak, I feel like he is much older but trying to play more aggressive and keep up with the play style and the fast paced tennis these days, with Daniil I don’t know if he’ll be able to stay eight feet behind the baseline and out grind Alcaraz and Sinner and Fritz. You’re not going to be able to do that, especially when you get into your mid 30’s.”
Medvedev has played five matches against top 10 players this year, and he has actually won his last three.
Two of those three top 10 wins have come against one player, with Medvedev beating Alexander Zverev in Halle and Beijing.