Carlos Alcaraz proven spot on about Daniil Medvedev as Spaniard gets Djokovic endorsement
Carlos Alcaraz's theory about Daniil Medvedev proved true after he beat the world No 3 in the Wimbledon semi-final. The Spaniard will now face Novak Djokovic.
Daniil Medvedev proved Carlos Alcaraz right after losing to the world No 1 at Wimbledon. Alcaraz previously questioned whether playing on Centre Court for the first time this year could derail the 27-year-old - something Medvedev admitted to after the match. Medvedev also endorsed Alcaraz's statement as the 20-year-old said he believed he could beat Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
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Alcaraz dispatched Medvedev in stunning fashion in the semi-final on Friday, needing just an hour and 50 minutes to win 6-3 6-3 6-3. It was the first time this year that the Russian played on Centre Court after admitting he loved Court 1 because he always won there.
Ahead of the match, the Spaniard noted that: "The aura that you live with on Centre Court is different than the other ones." And Medvedev admitted that it was different getting bumped up to the main showcourt - something that may have affected him in the one-sided defeat.
"It's tough to say because he played well. I feel like I didn't play too bad. Could have for sure played better. Little bit serving better. But it was not a terrible match," he started. "But very tough because Centre, for sure, different to Court 1."
Medvedev had also anticipated that things would be different over on Centre, adding: "I knew it. You have to adapt. It's not the first time in my career where I have to adapt to different courts. Not easy, because I didn't hit on Centre before this morning. Got 30 minutes.
"It was a little bit more wet in a way, and the ball was sliding through the grass, and I was missing a lot because I was late a little bit to the ball. That's what I always said on grass, rhythm is the most important. That's a little bit what I was missing, especially on the return, I would say, yeah."
The world No 3 also backed Alcaraz to defeat Djokovic on Sunday in spite of the 36-year-old's record at SW19. The Serb hasn't lost a match since 2017 and hasn't been defeated on Centre since the 2013 final against Andy Murray but Medvedev thinks the 20-year-old has a shot at the title.
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"I think, yes," he said when asked whether Alcaraz had what it took to displace the seven-time Wimbledon champion. "They never played on grass. Novak on grass, what, he won - I don't want to count - but 30-some matches in a row in Wimbledon. So it's going to be tough just because you play a guy who barely loses here."
It comes after Alcaraz said he wasn't afraid of Djokovic and his Wimbledon record after his semi-final win. "I will believe in myself, I will believe that I can beat him here," the top seed told the Centre Court crowd.
"He’s unbeatable since 2013 I think on this court so it’s gonna be a really tough challenge for me but I’m grateful for this. I’ve dreamed since I started playing tennis to play a final but it’s even more special playing against Novak. But it’s a final, it’s not time to be afraid, it’s not time to be tired. I will go for it."
