Daniil Medvedev recently praised Jannik Sinner and shared his perspective on the growing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. The Russian endured a tough defeat at the Six Kings Slam, losing 0-6, 3-6 to Sinner, who has now won 7 of their last 8 encounters at ATP level.

Sinner’s Resurgence and Head-to-Head Record

Since Sinner’s resurgence in 2023, he has leveled his head-to-head record against Medvedev from 0-6 to 7-7, including a victory in the Australian Open final earlier this year. Medvedev has only once experienced a similarly one-sided loss to Sinner (1-6, 2-6 in the Miami Open semi-finals), but he called this recent match “the best performance” he has witnessed from the world No. 1.

Medvedev’s View: “I Don’t Remember the Last Time This Happened”

The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz has intensified over recent years, with many considering them the potential successors to the Big-3, poised to dominate the Tour. The 21-year-old Alcaraz already boasts 4 Grand Slam titles, while the 23-year-old Sinner has closed the gap, securing two titles at the Australian Open and US Open this year.

Medvedev’s Perspective on the Rivalry

Medvedev reflected on how his recent match against Sinner changed his view:

“I usually think of Jannik Sinner as more consistent, more like a machine, while Carlos Alcaraz is a bit more, you know, swinging with some classy shots. But when Carlos is at the top of his game, I consider him slightly better. But we’re talking about peak performance. Today I changed my opinion.”

He added:

“I’ve never played against someone who performed like Jannik Sinner today. It was a tough feeling on the court.”

Sinner’s Exceptional Performance

According to Medvedev, his level of play was not as poor as the scoreline suggests, and it was Sinner’s exceptional performance that led to the convincing defeat, despite Medvedev’s confidence in his own game:

“I was feeling good, I was fighting well, physically I felt good. My tennis wasn’t that bad, and I lost easily, which I don’t remember the last time this happened.”