In evaluating Carlos Alcaraz against the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev is in a stronger position than most. The Russian has faced every one of them; most recently, he lost to Alcaraz in a hard-fought Wimbledon semifinal.
Alcaraz, who is still only 21 years old, will have the opportunity to win his fourth Grand Slam title on Sunday. Alcaraz’s four-set victory over Medvedev on Center Court secured his spot in the highly anticipated final against Djokovic.
After the match, Medvedev said that Alcaraz is the hardest opponent he has ever faced on a tennis court, even if he acknowledged that he hasn’t played any of the Big Three in their heyday.
Medvedev expressed his thoughts about Alcaraz in a recent interview and said: “Probably in my career he’s the toughest opponent I have faced. But I have time, I have time to try to do better. I played Big Three when they were, let’s say, older. Over 30. It was a bit different. Roger plays on the line, hits beautiful technique shots, and goes to the net. Novak plays also on the line, but completely different. Amazing defence, like a pinball player where the ball comes back faster to you.”
He further said: “Rafa, completely different again. He can stay ten meters behind, but he is going to run to every ball and hit banana shots. I think where Carlos is different from many players, we all have a little bit of our preferences, some prefer defence, some prefer to counter-attack, and some prefer to be super aggressive. He can do all of it.”
With five wins and just two losses in their head-to-head record, Alcaraz has already established a commanding advantage over Medvedev, and the two might continue to tour together for many more years, with Medvedev still in the prime of his career and Alcaraz decades also in his potential prime.
Daniil Medvedev in 2024
Currently the world no.5, Daniil played his last match on the 12th of July when he capitulated to world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal in Wimbledon (draw).
This season Medvedev has managed to achieve a compiled 33-10 match record. Daniil Medvedev’s best achievement of this year was reaching the final at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
Daniil Medvedev will fight against the world no.182 Diego Schwartzman in the Round Robin on Sunday at 4:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their current head to head is 6-0 for Medvedev.
The Russian reached the final at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open).
Daniil won 21 titles in his career: 11 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 8 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
Ranked no.3, Alcaraz played his last match on the 12th of July when he defeated world no.5 Daniil Medvedev 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal in Wimbledon (draw).
This season Alcaraz has achieved an overall 32-6 win-loss record. Alcaraz clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells and French Open.
Carlos Alcaraz will fight against the world no.382 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . They have never competed against each other so far on the main tour.
Alcaraz has won 2 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells and French Open.
The Spaniard won 15 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 2 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz faced off 7 times. Their record is 5-2 for Alcaraz. The last time they played each other, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the semifinal in London (Wimbledon) on the 12th of July 2024.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Now ranked no.2, Djokovic played his last match on the 12th of July when he overcame world no.25 Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 in the semifinal in Wimbledon (draw).
At present, during this year Djokovic has a 23-6 match record. Novak Djokovic’s best performance of this season was getting to the semifinal at the Australian Open, Monte Carlo, Geneva and in Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Currently ranked no.265, Rafael played his last match on the 27th of May when he lost to world no.4 Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in the 1st round in the French Open (draw).
This season Rafael has a 7-5 win-loss record.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played each other 59 times. The head to head is 30-29 for Djokovic. Before, the last time they competed against each other, Rafael Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4) in the quarter in Paris (French Open) in May 2022.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |