Medvedev speaks clearly about Alcaraz and his most dangerous weapon: "It's almost impossible to defend"

Jose Morón | 12 Mar 2026 | 02.21

Medvedev speaks clearly about Alcaraz and his most dangerous weapon: "It's almost impossible to defend." Photo: Getty

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Daniil Medvedev likes Indian Wells. It's a fact. He adapts very well to its conditions and is capable of achieving great results, as is the case this year. Without making too much noise, the Russian has reached the quarterfinals, where he could potentially face Djokovic, with Carlos Alcaraz appearing on the semi-final horizon.

Daniil has discussed various topics with journalists during the press conference, not shying away from giving his opinion on issues such as the shot clock or the new Dunlop balls, leaving Penn behind. Oh, and don't miss his thoughts on a specific shot by Carlitos Alcaraz.

Medvedev and his level when playing well

When I play at this level, it's difficult to face me because I can serve well, hit winners when needed, and also defend very well when required. I have quite a complete game, and sometimes it's not easy to figure out how to counter it. That's a bit what happened today.

About his style of play

When I'm confident, I'm an aggressive player. If you look at my matches in Grand Slam finals, when I faced opponents like Rublev or Felix, who are very aggressive, I still managed to hit more winners than them. This is because I defend well to reduce their chances, but when I have the opportunity, I can also attack. When I play poorly, I become more defensive, but it's not a choice; it's a consequence of my shot power decreasing a bit, also the first-serve percentage, etc. When I strike the ball as I'm doing now, I can be aggressive, pressure my opponents a lot, and still be solid in defense. That's what makes it difficult to play against me.

About the shot clock before serving

The shot clock is very subjective. Even I, who serve very quickly, sometimes after a long rally of 40 shots, reach the serve trying to catch my breath, and when I look at the clock, there are five seconds left. Then I think, "What happened?" It goes by pretty fast now. But there are also players who use it excessively; for example, when there are two seconds left, they claim the ball toss wasn't good. I think the system here is a bit fast. And if I, who usually serve quickly, say so, it probably is. But in general, I try to adapt and play by the rules in place.

About chair umpires and how they enforce it

There are referees who enforce it differently. Fergus (Murphy) has penalized me several times for time violations, and I've always been very angry about it. When you play against players like Rafa, Sascha, or Novak, who take more time to prepare the serve, sometimes some flexibility is allowed. I think it would also help to warn the player before penalizing them, explaining that they are on the edge. I remember once in Vienna where I was penalized in a tiebreak after two very intense points. I didn't even go for the towel, and yet I received the penalty. I don't accept that.

Switching from Penn to Dunlop balls

If I'm not mistaken, Penn belongs to Head, and I don't like Head balls at all. After a few minutes of play, they stop being perfectly round. Sometimes you hit the ball exactly the same, and the result changes depending on the area of the ball you hit. I don't like that. Dunlop balls are not my favorites, but at least they are more round, and the result of the hit depends more on how you strike the ball. However, they wear out a bit quickly.

Who has the best drop shots on the circuit

Carlos Alcaraz, without a doubt, has incredible drop shots, very difficult to defend. And also Corentin Moutet. They have different styles, but both execute them very well. I simply try to react as best as possible and win the point when I can.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev habla claro sobre Alcaraz y su arma más peligrosa: “Es casi imposible de defender”