By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, November 16, 2023
Daniil Medvedev aims to deliver a dose of deja blue to Carlos Alcaraz in tomorrow’s Turin rematch.
In a clash of US Open champions, Medvedev will try to beat Alcaraz to the punch as he did scoring a four-set win on the blue Arthur Ashe Stadium Court in the US Open semifinals last September.
More: Medvedev Tops Rublev in Turin
World No. 3 Medvedev said he will try to exploit the fast Turin court taking the first strike against Alcaraz in their final Red Group round-robin match.
“As I told in US Open, I think against him, especially the way he played today, better than two days ago, have to be at your best,” Medvedev told the media in Turin. “Have to serve well. Here is opportunity comparing to, like, courts like Indian Wells. Can serve aces against him like Sascha did. So I need to play fast. I need to make winners before he does it.
“Yeah, today he was pretty well. It’s going to be a good continuation of a test. I beat two good opponents and I have another one in two days. I’m going to try to do my best.”
In New York, Medvedev served lights out against Alcaraz, winning 18 of 19 service games and saving eight of nine break points as he snapped a two-match losing streak to the top-seeded Spaniard ending his US Open reign.
The 2021 US Open champion Medvedev doesn’t have as much space behind the baseline at the Pala Alpitour as he had in Arthur Ashe Stadium. That disparity prompted Medvedev to suggest perhaps Masters events should standardize space behind the baseline as less room to operate favors aggressive baseliners who can return from near or even atop the baseline.
“I like when there is space. As I said, there are tournaments during the year, even Masters 1000, Madrid, Cincinnati, where I kind of don’t have, let’s say, the ability to be where I want,” Medvedev said. “I can still play well in these tournaments. Cincinnati this year, I didn’t do well, but I won it one time. Same Madrid. I was playing quite well.
“I think if you want the best game possible, we need to give this opportunity to all the players.
“For sure there are some players that stay on the baseline. They don’t care. They can have a very small court and they don’t care. Me, I like when there is space. I’m very happy when there are tournaments that give me space and I can do my job.”
Photo credit: Tim Clayton/Getty
