Andy Roddick says anybody who calls Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev a one slam surprise is an fool.
Jannik Sinner beat Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 final weekend to win his maiden grand slam title and arrange a decade lengthy rivalry with fellow rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
It was Medvedev’s sixth look in a grand slam remaining, however he solely has one trophy to his identify — the 2021 US Open the place he beat Novak Djokovic within the remaining.
The 27-year-old spent greater than 24 hours on court docket at Melbourne Park, together with a number of early morning finishes, setting a brand new file for probably the most taking part in time at a grand slam.
But Medvedev’s gut-wrenching 5 set loss noticed him change into the primary participant to lose two grand slam finals after main two units to like after Rafael Nadal additionally got here again to beat him within the 2022 Australian Open remaining.
It’s sparked a dialogue round who’s the very best participant to solely win one grand slam.
Roddick received the 2003 US Open and the Davis Cup representing the USA, however misplaced three Wimbledon finals and a US Open decider to Roger Federer.
Juan Martin Del Potro is one other candidate, having crushed Federer within the 2009 US Open remaining and exhibiting he might deal with the Big Three earlier than accidents sadly derailed his profession.
Andy Murray misplaced 5 Australian Open finals, however he received three grand slams so he’s out of this debate.
Speaking on his Served podcast, Roddick argued Medvedev’s tennis CV is best than his, calling him “one of the most underappreciated players ever”.
“And I’ll throw myself under the bus on this one. Twitter the other day, there’s some conversation going and I get looped in and they’re going, someone said, ‘Medvedev’s the best player ever that has one Slam.’ And I was the answer of the counter (argument).
“I’ll just tell everyone right now, he’s better than I ever was. He has 20-something-odd titles. He’s won however many Masters Series events, one World Tour Finals, has been No. 1 in the world. Oh by the way, beat Novak Djokovic in a grand slam final.”
“He has put himself there, I mean he’s been in back-to-back grand slam finals. This guy is better. If anyone calls him a ‘one slam wonder’, they’re idiots and don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Roddick stated whereas it’s straightforward to deal with Medvedev shedding a remaining after main two units to like, his file over an extended time frame stacks up with a number of the finest in tennis.
“I know we always celebrate the winner and people are gonna knock Medvedev for being up two sets and he let it go – that’s trash if you do that,” the American nice stated.
“Because that’s in no way representative of what he did this entire tournament and what frankly he’s done for five or six years.
“This is his sixth major final now and I don’t feel like we give him enough credit. I’ve never left a final watching Medvedev and thought he’s blown it or given it away. He makes someone earn it every single time.”
“He’s played Rafa twice, Novak twice and an in-form Sinner. It’s just the way it goes. I lost four finals and won one. Sometimes you just come up against someone better on the day.”
Medvedev will get his subsequent probability to win a grand slam in May on the French Open, the place his finest result’s a quarterfinal look in 2021.
Source: www.news.com.au
