Medvedev's Brutal Honesty after Victory: "Alcaraz and Sinner Remain Much Better Than Me"

Carlos Navarro | 15 Mar 2026 | 03.36

Medvedev did not mince words and left a surprising statement after defeating Alcaraz. Source: Getty

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It had been a long time since we had seen Daniil Medvedev execute such an outstanding aggressive, courageous, fearless game plan. When that plan works against the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, the merit undoubtedly multiplies. The Russian, already in his thirties, needed a victory like this to show that he still poses a threat to the best, that the slump of 2025 is behind him, and that he is pursuing a second tennis youth within a circuit that needs rivals for Carlos and Jannik.

However, it is Medvedev himself who calls for calm and caution when analyzing a victory like the one he achieved in the Indian Wells 2026 semifinals, denying any kind of historical and generational implications and placing himself still behind the Spanish and Italian players. This is one of the highlights of a press conference where he revealed his game plan, what beating someone like the Murcian means, and to what extent this victory confirms his return to his best historical level.

Medvedev explained what it means to face Alcaraz and had several outbursts of remarkable sincerity and self-criticism

- Brief assessment of his great victory over Alcaraz

"Being able to beat someone like Carlos, the world number one, is an incredible feeling. In a way, when you face someone like him, Jannik, or Novak, the ranking doesn't matter: it's a great feeling to be able to face them, and beating them is even better. Extremely happy with my level today and looking forward to tomorrow's match, of course."

- Is this victory a message in favor of his generation, a statement to show that he, Zverev, and company can still beat Jannik, Carlos, and the younger players?

"No, truth is, I don't care too much about these things. Firstly, because I am already a bit too old (smiles). I am no longer part of that NextGen. I had a very tough year in 2025, so I have a broader perspective that I must give my best and nothing more because Jannik and Carlos are much better than all of us. We can only beat them in one match. Sascha served to win in Australia, and you never know what would have happened in the final if he had won. This is more of a match, rather than a long-term race or a season. They are very good and they are much better than us. Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal were also much better than us.

However, Djokovic, Nadal, and also Jannik and Carlos are probably better than all those who came before them. Everyone would struggle against them, that's the way it is. Perhaps if I play 10 matches against Carlos, I would probably lose more than I win, but every time I step on the court, I have to believe in myself, give my best, and try to achieve victory."

- What does it mean to him to play such offensive tennis and face Carlos in such an aggressive way?

"You always have to find a balance. There was a time in my career when I tried, let's say, to be 'too aggressive,' and it didn't work out. I was expending too much energy; it wasn't my style of tennis, and it was driving me crazy; breaking rackets, etc. I'm not referring to last year in this case; it was a general feeling. Right now, I have confidence, and when I have confidence, I have always said that I feel like an aggressive player, especially on serve. It's a bit different on the return. Even in the return today, though, whenever I had the opportunity thanks to a great return, I tried to dictate the points. Today, the plan was not to be ultra-aggressive because that can cost you against Carlos, who is very good defensively and can make you make mistakes; the plan was to play the way I did in the previous matches, hit the ball very well, keep him under pressure, serve fantastically. It worked."