“Nadal will hit him like a wall”: why Medvedev is considered the favorite of the Australian Open final

ATP 

No. 

1 or 21st Grand Slam

The men's final will take place at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal will meet on the center court named after Rod Laver.

Tennis players have already played each other in the final match of the Grand Slam tournament.

In 2019, at the US Open, it turned out to be a difficult five-set duel, which ended in favor of the great Spaniard.

However, a lot has changed in three years.

The Russian climbed to second place in the world rankings and won the last US Open.

If he wins the final in Australia, Medvedev may even take first place.

If the domestic tennis becomes the champion of the tournament, in three weeks, on February 21, he will remove Novak Djokovic from the top for the first time in two years.

As noted by the honored coach of the RSFSR Viktor Yanchuk, such rearrangements are quite natural, since Daniil has already reached the level of the Serb.

“After the victory over Nadal, it will be very symbolic.

The defeat of Djokovic in the US Open final also became largely natural and hinted at a new state of affairs.

Danya beat Novak and will not lose to him again.

Medvedev cannot yet be called a leader, but he has already got them and will always claim victory in all competitions, ”the specialist said in an interview with RT.

There is something to fight for, and Nadal.

The Spaniard may become the first athlete in history to win 21 Grand Slams.

20 victories at the moment, in addition to Rafael, on account of Roger Federer and Djokovic.

However, the Spaniard himself admits that it is now more important for him to just play tennis than to win another trophy.

“Of course, the goal is to win.

I always have a competitive spirit, I can't do anything about it, it's in my DNA.

But to be honest, it's much more important for me to just play tennis.

Because the opportunity to do what you love gives you more happiness than winning another title, ”Nadal told Eurosport. 

The role of leader passed to Medvedev

The favorite of the match this time for the first time is Medvedev.

The "King of the Clay" missed the end of the season due to an injury and is holding a second tournament after recovering.

Therefore, the odds for Daniil to win are 1.50 for the bookmakers, while Nadal has 2.70. 

Do not doubt the domestic athlete and experts.

Olympic champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov noted that the good form of the Russian and his age will play a decisive role in the final.

“Still, 25 years is one thing, and 35 years is another. More tense meetings with Medvedev?

Maybe in the semi-finals he felt tired, if he says so.

But his body is young, metabolism is in order.

I am sure that Daniil will have time to recover and will come to the final in good condition, ”said the winner of the Australian Open-1999 in an interview with RT.

As for Nadal, according to Kafelnikov, it is still difficult to draw any conclusions about his physical condition, since none of the opponents forced the Spaniard to play at full strength.

“So far he has not felt resistance from any tennis player in the tournament.

And tomorrow Rafael will finally feel it and find out what it means to give all the best on the court not by 75, but by 100-150 percent, ”the specialist believes.

In addition, Kafelnikov singled out the good actions of the Russian in defense.

As the specialist noted, at some point this will help turn the tide of the match.

“Sooner or later, Rafael will hit him like a wall and start making mistakes.

At least that's how I see it," added the famed tennis player.

Yanchuk has a similar position.

The coach believes that the main advantages of a domestic athlete are youth and reliability during protracted draws.  

“Medvedev went through difficult trials and came out of them with honor.

You can tell it bends, but it doesn't break.

Due to the skill of Daniil, you can press him, but his character helps him out.

In a five-set, his chances of winning are higher.

The Russian has an advantage not so much in power as in reliability and tenacity.

He is able to withstand a protracted exchange of blows and not make mistakes.

The tennis player keeps pace, and very well, quickly spreads the balls around the court, ”the specialist believes.

According to the head of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev, in the Sunday match everything will be decided by the mentality and physical capabilities of the athletes.

“This is the first Grand Slam final where Medvedev is the favorite.

Additional responsibility.

The question is how Danya will cope with it - but if he plays like with Tsitsipas, then he will have an advantage.

In such matches, you have to fight from the first point to the last.

Nadal is an experienced tennis player, he can play according to his condition and the condition of his opponent.

This is a tactic, we must see what will happen, ”Tarpishchev said in an interview with the Championship portal. 

In turn, Kafelnikov believes that nothing should put pressure on Medvedev psychologically.  

“He has absolutely nothing to lose in tomorrow's match.

Of course, you need to win.

But even if he loses, although, to be honest, I just don’t believe it, he will still have a Grand Slam final, and more than one.

Therefore, there should be no psychological pressure, ”Yevgeny is sure. 

Emotions versus self-control

However, there is a factor that still remains on the side of the Spaniard.

Unlike the Russian, he, thanks to his vast experience, is much more cold-blooded on the court.

As Medvedev admits, this is one of the few tennis players who does not get angry during the match.

“Well, we all know what Rafa's character is like in life.

I don't know if I should say that, but he's like, you know, the perfect man.

When asked why he never breaks rackets, the Spaniard always tells how Uncle Tony raised him as a child.

It's hard to control yourself like that.

Many of my friends who break the joystick in anger don't even play tennis.

In general, people are able to get angry at anything, so Rafa is well done, there is nothing more to add.

He is incredible, ”said the Russian at a press conference.

Daniel himself cannot boast of such calmness.

He can be overly emotional in matches.

So, after the semi-finals with Stefanos Tsitsipas, the tennis player immediately received two fines for swearing at the judge: $ 8 thousand for unsportsmanlike behavior and $ 4 thousand for "obscenity".

The Greek is also punished: he will pay $5,000 for "coaching".

However, Yanchuk saw a positive aspect in Medvedev's behavior.

According to the expert, this suggests that the Russian has the psychological stability to decide the outcome of any confrontation in his favor.

“He has shown that he does not put up with defeat, is ready to win despite distractions and comes out with honor from the most difficult situations,” the coach emphasized.

Spaniard Jaume Campistol, the referee of the semi-finals, by the way, was not very upset because of Medvedev's behavior.

On Twitter, he posted a video on Saturday with a GIF of a cat and the caption "I'm fine."  

Meanwhile I'm cackling at 'small cat' Chair Umpire posting this on his Insta stories 😍😂 pic.twitter.com/FMBnr64OJk

— Foot Fault Tennis (@footfaulttennis) January 29, 2022