Assessing Medvedev's game: what are his best shots?

[atttomole]

His serve is great and can improve on his other shots. With the serve that he has, I expect him to play more attacking tennis. He likes to play long points at times, but he can try to surprise opponents by attacking the net and keep the opponent guessing. Potentially, he has great variety.

 

[Bonaca]

I think one of his best shots is the next, not yet played!
Very smart player, thinking a lot and try to adjust his game during a match when not working well.
That’s pretty remarkable too.
Serve and BH are on top, FH and Drop shot very good and volley only average.
He has enough to do better, which means he will become an elite player. Looking forward to that.

 

[El Dude]

I swear Front is single handedly ruining every fucking thread by engaging in a back and forth with the Nadal trolls. For fuck's sake stop because it's legit killing off any potential conversation. The forums have been god awful lately.

Agreed - which is why I have mostly stayed away -- I'm just so sick of the Fedal warring. But as the year comes to a close, and my wounds from Wimbledon are healed (mostly), and the interesting developments on tour with Medvedev etc, I'm getting a hankering to talk tennis - especially young guys. I've decided to "Ignore" the worst offenders, see how that goes. I generally don't like to do that, but it is just too tedious otherwise.

Though I get annoyed with Front's incessant squabbling with the trolls, he gets a free pass because he does contribute, plus he's an old-timer so is grandfathered in (aren't you so glad you earn my approval, Front?

 

[El Dude]

OK, Medvedev. I don't feel like I've watched him enough to really assess his game -- although will say that he seems to have more of a complete game than it at first glance, even from earlier this year. He's forever linked with Khachanov in my mind, as they are very close in age, tall Russians, and came up at the same time - even leapfrogging each other for awhile. From the get-go I preferred Medvedev, even had a hunch he'd be good (although not this good), but then Khachanov had his run last year, won Paris, and seemed like he would be the better player. But Daniil has exceeded all expectations this year.

That said, I'm not quite ready to crown him the next great player, or even next #1. I do think he will win Slams, be a regular in the top 5, and maybe even reach #1, but I still think Tsitsipas and FAA have more potential.

That said, the AO should be interesting. I'm hoping we see a new (Next Gen) Slam champion, and Daniil seems the top contender.

 

[Moxie]

OK, Medvedev. I don't feel like I've watched him enough to really assess his game -- although will say that he seems to have more of a complete game than it at first glance, even from earlier this year. He's forever linked with Khachanov in my mind, as they are very close in age, tall Russians, and came up at the same time - even leapfrogging each other for awhile. From the get-go I preferred Medvedev, even had a hunch he'd be good (although not this good), but then Khachanov had his run last year, won Paris, and seemed like he would be the better player. But Daniil has exceeded all expectations this year.

That said, I'm not quite ready to crown him the next great player, or even next #1. I do think he will win Slams, be a regular in the top 5, and maybe even reach #1, but I still think Tsitsipas and FAA have more potential.

That said, the AO should be interesting. I'm hoping we see a new (Next Gen) Slam champion, and Daniil seems the top contender.

I have thought that Khachanov is more uni-dimensional. I had no feel for Medvedev before this summer, but I'm not shocked that he's running past KK. I find the most impressive of his game to be the serve, and the IQ/mentality. Also, let's face it, it doesn't seem to be wearing down, at all. He's displaying amazing stamina for a someone who wasn't even featuring that much, not so long ago. By which I mean both mental and physical.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I honestly still don't think any of the young guys are can't miss talent, including Medvedev. I'm so hesitant saying he'll win a slam with any degree of certainty although I will say that he SHOULD win a slam. If nothing else, he's found real consistency (early next year will be very telling, in case there's a letdown or a struggle to keep it up, although I don't predict there will), and he's definitely got the right mentality. If he keeps putting himself in positions, he can almost win one by "default" if that makes any sense. I mean, he almost did it in New York.

I'll say this, his rise has made tennis slightly more exciting.

 

[El Dude]

I honestly still don't think any of the young guys are can't miss talent, including Medvedev. I'm so hesitant saying he'll win a slam with any degree of certainty although I will say that he SHOULD win a slam. If nothing else, he's found real consistency (early next year will be very telling, in case there's a letdown or a struggle to keep it up, although I don't predict there will), and he's definitely got the right mentality. If he keeps putting himself in positions, he can almost win one by "default" if that makes any sense. I mean, he almost did it in New York.

I'll say this, his rise has made tennis slightly more exciting.

I hear what you are saying in that no one quite has that "it" feel to them yet. But I think that partially, even largely, has to do with the fact that we're all jaded with the Big Three - they've re-calibrated our standards away from historical norms, which is that the elite are 6-8 Slam winners who fade in their late 20s to early 30s. Meaning, just because no one looks like the next Fedalkovic, doesn't mean there are some really good players in development.

Another angle is that someone has to be a future #1 and multi-Slam winner, and perhaps several someones. I still put my money on FAA as being the current young guy who, 20 years from now, might have the best career looking back. But as I and others have suggested, we might be entering an era where there's a handful of guys that fight for the top in a game of musical chairs. Could be fun.

 

[El Dude]

Actually, the next five years might not be that different from the late 80s to early 00s. Sampras and Agassi were still the top players, but in toto their dominance wasn't quite what it was a few years before (especially when coupled with Edberg/Becker), and the up-and-coming generation had no similarly talented players, but a bunch of guys that were somewhat closely clumped together in talent and accomplishment in Kuerten, Kafelnikov, Rafter, Rios, Corretja, Enqvist, Moya, etc.

Maybe Medvedev/Zverev/Tsitsipas are the equivalent of Safin/Hewitt/Ferrero/Roddick who fill the cap until the Annointed One (Federer/Aliassime) takes over.

Or maybe (probably) that's all silly bullshit, and bound to piss off some old grump who gets annoyed with such playful speculation.

 

[Jelenafan]

I have thought that Khachanov is more uni-dimensional. I had no feel for Medvedev before this summer, but I'm not shocked that he's running past KK. I find the most impressive of his game to be the serve, and the IQ/mentality. Also, let's face it, it doesn't seem to be wearing down, at all. He's displaying amazing stamina for a someone who wasn't even featuring that much, not so long ago. By which I mean both mental and physical.

However I question whether playing all this HC tennis this fall/winter will eventually take its toll. It’s easy to say now that he’s young and can bounce back but there’s also mental fatigue that can take a delayed effect on a player.

 

[Front242]

Agreed - which is why I have mostly stayed away -- I'm just so sick of the Fedal warring. But as the year comes to a close, and my wounds from Wimbledon are healed (mostly), and the interesting developments on tour with Medvedev etc, I'm getting a hankering to talk tennis - especially young guys. I've decided to "Ignore" the worst offenders, see how that goes. I generally don't like to do that, but it is just too tedious otherwise.

Though I get annoyed with Front's incessant squabbling with the trolls, he gets a free pass because he does contribute, plus he's an old-timer so is grandfathered in (aren't you so glad you earn my approval, Front?

I really haven't bothered arguing with those 2 clowns till last weekend 'cos my laptop is broken (and I was using my wife's while she's away for the week and I had some free time for once. Suffice to say, I agree, they're not worth it and once no one responds to their shite then their silly little rants are pointless. I don't actually have any poster on ignore but I will try and ignore them from now and just laugh to myself at their stupidity.

 

[Front242]

OK, Medvedev. I don't feel like I've watched him enough to really assess his game -- although will say that he seems to have more of a complete game than it at first glance, even from earlier this year. He's forever linked with Khachanov in my mind, as they are very close in age, tall Russians, and came up at the same time - even leapfrogging each other for awhile. From the get-go I preferred Medvedev, even had a hunch he'd be good (although not this good), but then Khachanov had his run last year, won Paris, and seemed like he would be the better player. But Daniil has exceeded all expectations this year.

That said, I'm not quite ready to crown him the next great player, or even next #1. I do think he will win Slams, be a regular in the top 5, and maybe even reach #1, but I still think Tsitsipas and FAA have more potential.

That said, the AO should be interesting. I'm hoping we see a new (Next Gen) Slam champion, and Daniil seems the top contender.

Medvedev has a legit shot at getting to number 1 by the end of clay season 'cos he didn't do great there up to now and surely can only improve next year. His game definitely needs some work on clay and is clearly more suited to hard courts (fast/medium mostly, though Montreal is slow and he made the final there too) but he beat Djokovic at Monte Carlo so he can beat the top guys even on clay.

 

[Jelenafan]

With Medvedev the question becomes will he transition from someone who has a single great year to someone, with expectations squarely on their shoulders ( ie expected to win) who responds well to the pressure. At the AO he will be seeded 3 or 4 and I’m thinking some may make him the favorite. He’ll have a target on his back because he’s now one of the big boys, or at least hanging out with them, LOL. Other NextGen have clearly felt the added pressure so to me it’s still wait and see.

 

[Front242]

^ Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him win the AO as it's faster than the USO. He's gone on record for saying he's going after number 1 next year too.

 

[tented]

^ Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him win the AO as it's faster than the USO..

Really? I thought the general consensus is the USO is faster.

 

[Front242]

Really? I thought the general consensus is the USO is faster.

It seemed faster this year in the day matches than I recall last few year but the night time matches were pretty slow this year. Either way, Medvedev made the final and I think he can easily do that in Australia too, if not win it. No one will want to draw him.

 

[tented]

It seemed faster this year in the day matches than I recall last few year but the night time matches were pretty slow this year. Either way, Medvedev made the final and I think he can easily do that in Australia too, if not win it. No one will want to draw him.

At least the Big Three will be able to avoid him until the semis/final, but you’re right — Medvedev will be one of the key names everyone will look for after the draw comes out. He may even be No. 3 by then, if he gains enough points from Paris/Bercy through the WTF, and Roger doesn’t gain enough.

 

[Front242]

At least the Big Three will be able to avoid him until the semis/final, but you’re right — Medvedev will be one of the key names everyone will look for after the draw comes out. He may even be No. 3 by then, if he gains enough points from Paris/Bercy through the WTF, and Roger doesn’t gain enough.

Yup. Very strong chance of him being number 3 by the time the AO comes around. Well deserved. He's had an incredible year.

 

[kskate2]

Put them on your ignore list.

I wear a watch that doubles as anti-troll meter. It releases endorphins. I automatically ignore trolling, baiting and the like. It's the only way I can stay an admin this long.

CC: @Front242

 

[calitennis127]

His serve is great and can improve on his other shots. With the serve that he has, I expect him to play more attacking tennis. He likes to play long points at times, but he can try to surprise opponents by attacking the net and keep the opponent guessing. Potentially, he has great variety.

He can really flatten out the forehand too.....with Medvedev it is important that he uses his offense to set up his defense. If he can play aggressive for a few minutes and get his opponent on their backfoot, then he can just fall back into defense mode and draw a million errors.

 

[Moxie]

He can really flatten out the forehand too.....with Medvedev it is important that he uses his offense to set up his defense. If he can play aggressive for a few minutes and get his opponent on their backfoot, then he can just fall back into defense mode and draw a million errors.

But I thought that was what you hated about Nadal's game, drawing errors from his defense. And it's not like Nadal doesn't use offense effectively, and particularly defense-to-offense.