After defeating Matteo Arnaldi in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, Daniil Medvedev reiterated his criticism of the tennis balls used in the competition. The 28-year-old claimed that because Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz were the only players who could produce a lot of power with the balls, they were the ones who benefited from them.
In a previous altercation with the tournament supervisor, Medvedev claimed that the balls he used to defeat Thiago Seyboth Wild in the second round were not up to professional tennis standards.
Medvedev said: “These balls are not good enough for professional tennis. This is one of the biggest tournaments in the world and the balls are destroyed after 5 games. No pressure at all.”
Having secured his spot in the Shanghai Masters’ fourth round, Medvedev once again poked fun at the quality of balls. Following his 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Arnaldi, the Russian player wrote and signed the camera.
When the game was over, someone asked Medvedev if he was making any adjustments to maximize the quality of the ball. After stating that he did not believe any player was changing, he replied that the balls favoured players who could continue to generate power after they stopped.
The 28-year-old claimed that the balls used in the Masters 1000 competition were helping Sinner and Alcaraz.
He talked about it and said: “I don’t think anyone is changing. I think it basically favours people who can benefit power from dead balls. Some have better quality with this. Some don’t. Actually the two best players at doing this, they’re already the best players in the world. I’m sure they would be without the balls, but with these balls, they’re the only players who can generate crazy power. It’s Jannik and Carlos. It gives them an extra edge.”
Medvedev on balls in Shanghai
“Now even when I make a good return, there are one of two where I can’t hit a better return and the ball stops through the air….it favors people who can generate power from dead balls. Jannik and Carlos…it gives them an extra edge.”
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Sinner in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
WWLWWWWWWW Currently ranked no.1, Jannik has managed to achieve a compiled 61-6 record in 2024. The Italian is now competing in Shanghai where he ousted Unknown Player bye, the world no.93 Taro Daniel 6-1 6-4 and the world no.37 Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2.
Jannik Sinner will come up against the world no.16 Ben Shelton in the 4th round on Wednesday at 12:30 pm on STADIUM COURT. Their actual record is 3-1 for Sinner.
The Italian clinched 6 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. The Italian got to the final in Beijing (China Open).
Sinner won 17 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner will play next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 28th of October.
Alcaraz in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Now the world no.2, Alcaraz achieved a compiled 50-9 win-loss record in 2024. The Spaniard is currently competing in Shanghai where he conquered Unknown Player bye, the world no.51 Juncheng Shang 6-2 6-2 and the world no.560 Yibing Wu 7-6(5) 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz will square off with the world no.357 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . In the past, they have never competed against each other up to now in top competitions.
Carlos has won 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. Carlos was the finalist in Paris (Olympics).
Carlos won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 28th of October.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz faced off 11 times. Their actual record is 7-4 for Alcaraz. Before, the last time they locked horns, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing (China Open) on the 2nd of October 2024.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Medvedev in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2024
Ranked world no.5, Medvedev owns a 44-17 win-loss record in 2024. Medvedev is now having a run in Shanghai where he managed to beat the world no.88 Thiago Seyboth Wild 7-5 7-5 and the world no.36 Matteo Arnaldi 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Daniil Medvedev will take on the world no.223 Diego Schwartzman in the Round Robin on Sunday at 4:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their current record is 6-0 for Medvedev.
Daniil was the runner-up 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)
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev |
| Embed from Getty Images |
