Daniil Medvedev has reacted to being described as “one of the most unfair” tennis gamers on this planet by Alexander Zverev by mocking his German rival.
World quantity 4 Medvedev defeated Zverev on the Monte Carlo Masters this week in an exciting three-setter, preventing again from dropping the primary set to win 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7).
Zverev, who continues to be within the early levels of his comeback from a serious knee harm, was understandably annoyed at not having the ability to end off his opponent and detonated a bomb in a post-match interview.
The 25-year-old, who additionally misplaced to Medvedev in three tight units at Indian Wells final month, hit out on the Russian’s gamesmanship, which included a number of rest room breaks and one weird second when he eliminated one of many internet posts.
“He is one of the most unfair players we have in the world,” Zverev declared. “He tries to do everything when he’s behind. He did it in Indian Wells, he did it here.”
Zverev went on to say his rivalry with Medvedev would by no means be loved by tennis followers just like the one between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal due to the dearth of sportsmanship.
“I take fairness and sportsmanship very, very seriously and unfortunately he has none of that,” Zverev stated.
“The rivalry we have is incredible. We’ve played each other so many times, but one of the reasons why Roger and Rafa were so popular and the rivalry was appreciated all over the world was because they were always fair to each other.
“Unfortunately you can’t say that about him and that’s just a real shame for me as an athlete.”
Medvedev progressed to the quarterfinals the place he was soundly overwhelmed by Holger Rune.
He appeared to reference Zverev’s feedback whereas shaking palms with the Dane, saying “you played unfair”.
Medvedev was later requested about what Zverev needed to say and advised the German to “look in the mirror”.
“First, I do think that honestly with probably 90 players on tour I’m great friends,” he stated.
“So I usually feel bad when something on court happens and let’s say I’m not fair play, because I know sometimes I’m not.”
“(But Zverev) is living in his own world. I already had like five players in the locker room coming to me and saying, ‘Come on, Daniil, why are you so unfair?’,” Medvedev stated whereas smiling.
“When he loses, we can find maybe 25 interview of him where he does say some strange things … when he says someone is not fair play, you’re like, OK great. Look at yourself in the mirror.”
Medvedev then promised to pay Zverev a go to within the locker room if he retains up his verbal assaults.
“It doesn’t disappoint me at all, but again, if in one week he’s going to continue saying, well, I’m going to come to him in the locker room and say ‘let’s discuss what’s wrong’,” Medvedev stated.
“Tell me, I’m gonna tell you, and maybe we never gonna speak again and we are gonna be enemies or whatever. But at this moment I don’t care much.”
Medvedev’s run of 5 successive finals got here to a halt as the previous world primary slipped to a 6-3 6-4 loss to Danish rising star Rune.
Medvedev gained his fourth title in 5 occasions on the Miami Masters earlier this month however has nonetheless by no means gained an ATP clay-court match.
World quantity 9 Rune managed the primary ever assembly between the 2, breaking as soon as within the first set and twice within the second.
The 19-year-old, who reached the French Open quarter-finals final yr, is searching his first title of the season and can subsequent play Jannik Sinner.
Sinner cruised to a 6-2 6-2 victory over fellow Italian teen Musetti who did not again up his sensible efficiency towards Novak Djokovic.
The 21-year-old Sinner has reached the semi-finals in any respect three Masters occasions thus far this yr.
Andrey Rublev, who misplaced to Tsitsipas within the 2021 remaining, earlier booked his place within the different semi-finals with a 6-1 7-6 (7-5) win over German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.
Rublev will meet American Taylor Fritz, who recorded a shock victory over match favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas.
— with AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
