Medvedev surrenders to Alcaraz and Sinner: "There is no one who can challenge them regularly"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 19 Jan 2026 | 07.57

Medvedev surrenders to Alcaraz and Sinner: "There is no one who can challenge them regularly." Photo: Getty

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Fresh start. Perhaps not as radical because the last weeks of the past season were not entirely bad for the Russian, but Daniil Medvedev seems to have embarked on a new path in this new year, starting with a very good victory in the 2026 Australian Open.

The Russian player had to consider many things in the past preseason, although Daniil faces this tournament with a completely revamped version that prioritizes optimism and calm. In a press conference, Medvedev analyzed the keys to his good moment on the circuit, in addition to his role regarding Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

"Overall, I played quite well, but there were moments in the match where I could have played better, especially with my serve. I felt good, neither slow nor fast on the court. The most important thing is to win three sets, eager to try to raise my level. The end was a bit tough, but I felt that my opponent was going through a tough time. I had a good preseason. I worked hard both physically and mentally," explained Medvedev to the media present.

Medvedev speaks out on the negotiation between tennis players and Grand Slams

"It has been a great increase, and that's great. The most important thing now is the revenue percentage. There are large amounts of money involved. The percentage should be comparable to other sports. I let our teams handle this. I hope this promotes more transparency between the Grand Slams and the players because I believe it will benefit everyone."

Daniil Medvedev and the keys to his good form

"When I was playing better, when I was among the top two, three players, even at the Grand Slams, I was considered a rather defensive player because I knew how to place the ball on the court and could engage in rallies of 40 shots. But then I faced players like Rublev, Félix, big hitters when I was in my best form, and I would leave the match thinking: 'Well, I got 40 winners and they got 20 on me because I was defending and trying to touch the ball,' etc. I would ask myself: 'Who is actually defending?'

When I play well, I am aggressive, especially with my serve. In return, due to my position, it is a bit harder to be aggressive, but once I find a good point, I try to press. When I play well, I am that type of player. They say I look more aggressive than last year, and that's great because last year I didn't feel good playing, and that's when I felt I was becoming too defensive, which I do not want."

Was it something physical or mental?

"I try to be more optimistic than when I'm on the court. I had a long preseason. Last year was tough. I feel great with my new team so I don't dwell much on the past. What happened last year, happened, and it's okay. It's part of my career, of life. I managed to finish the year around the 12th or 13th place, which, to be honest, is great. Of course, I wasn't happy. It was the first year I wasn't in Turin after about 7 or 8 years. Still, it wasn't so bad, and the end of the year was better than the year itself.

I think it was more mental than tennis. In my tennis, sometimes I didn't feel well. Mentally it's not easy because you wonder why my cross-court backhand isn't working well, why my serve isn't working well, and that's when you start to feel physically bad because mentally you start demanding a bit more from yourself, you start getting a bit tenser during matches. That's why mentally it's a bit more difficult."

Daniil Medvedev, on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

"Jannik and Carlos... it's tough. They just play better tennis than others. Again, I think the important thing is that I have played against many big names in tennis, and you can beat anyone on a given day. I'm not ashamed to say that if we played about 20 matches against Carlos and Jannik, let's say 10 with each, I would probably lose many, but I will give my best in each to win. Out of 10 matches, you can win some, I won't specify an amount, but you can win. They can have a slightly off day. I beat both of them in Grand Slams in different tournaments.

I aim to be consistent because, for example, last year was bad for me and I couldn't face them, because, of course, they were always in the final and such, and I would lose in the beginning. I didn't even play against them. For me, it's important to stand firm, play well, and reach the point of facing them, as they're usually in the quarterfinals or semifinals, and then I would be happy to accept this challenge. But, I repeat, they are the two best players in the world. Probably right now, there is no one who can challenge them regularly, but in one match, they can always lose. Anyone can beat them at some point."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev se rinde ante Alcaraz y Sinner: "No hay nadie que pueda desafiarlos con regularidad"