Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will add another chapter to one of the spicier rivalries in tennis. This time they meet in the second round-robin match in the Red Group at the Nitto ATP Finals on Wednesday.
Several years ago, the rivalry between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas was what one might call contentious. The two men engaged in a well-publicized argument at the Miami Masters in 2018, the flames fanned when Tsitsipas called Medvedev a “bull**it Russian” and because the Greek took a bathroom break at a crucial moment in the third set. It was all for naught from Tsitsipas’ end; Medvedev won that match and the next four on the trot.
Things have been a little more even since then. Tsitsipas won their only other ATP final match back in 2019, when the event was still hosted in London. They have taken turns winning since, with Tsitsipas bagging a three-set victory in Cincinnati earlier this year. Medvedev still holds a 7-3 head-to-head edge over the current world No. 3, but Tsitsipas is clearly no longer intimidated by the Russian.
Both men lost their opening rubbers this week. Tsitsipas dropped a straight-set but competitive match against Novak Djokovic and Medvedev lost to countryman Andrey Rublev. Of the two men, Tsitsipas was actually better in his first match than Medvedev was in his.
Tsitsipas’ whipping forehand is effective on these quick indoor courts. And while Medvedev certainly gets the checkmark in the backhand department, Tsitispas is the better mover.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 3
Ricky pick: Medvedev in 3
Tsitsipas in 3.
WWW?
No way Tsitsipas is the better mover đ medvedev just gives up a lot of court standing farther back. Should be a good one though, leaning medvedev in 3.
I actually think he IS, because he gets into position more comfortably than Medvedev does.
That was quite literally one of the closest matches I’ve ever seen.
Medvedev serves for the match and loses but I think Tsitsipas is the deserving winner, his firm overall has been slightly better the past few weeks and he won
the first set and lost a very close 2nd TB.
There is no Rafa Ruud prediction so posting this here.
That was a very important win for Rafa to stop the bleeding and the media narrative.
He played a million times better after winning the first set. In the first set he was very shaky but Ruud was making plenty of errors and donated his serve.
Rafa served fantastic and it goes to show what a massive difference that makes.
Lot of ? about Ruud after that performance. Rafa demolished his bh again. Yes he had already qualified but that is partly because Felix played awful.
I feel a thousand per cent happier about Rafa’s prospects early next year after that win. If he had lost again it would have been rotten for his confidence and pride.
Now he can rest and regroup and look forward to next year.
Rafa really did look like Rafa for the first time since wimby in the second set. So good to see!
Vamos for 2023!