The Greek has fallen outside the top 80, a sharp contrast to his previous status as a consistent presence in the latter stages of major tournaments. Once regarded as one of the leading figures of the Next Gen cohort, his results have stalled in recent years, with inconsistency across surfaces and limited deep runs at Grand Slams.
Despite that backdrop, Medvedev’s remarks frame Tsitsipas less as a player in structural decline and more as someone capable of rapid resurgence depending on form and confidence shifts.
“He definitely has the ability” — Medvedev highlights Tsitsipas’ tools
However, in his post-match press conference, one of the central topics was his assessment of long-time rival Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has endured a sharp drop in ranking and results over the past seasons. The discussion reflected both players’ shared history as part of the same generation that was expected to succeed the Big Three era.
Medvedev was direct in his evaluation of Tsitsipas’ technical foundation, emphasising that his game still contains all the components required for success at the highest level. “You never know, but he definitely has the ability,” Medvedev said. “I would not be surprised if at any moment — in two weeks, one year, or five years — he wins a Slam or reaches semifinals.”
The Russian expanded on Tsitsipas’ skill set, highlighting his all-court profile when operating at full level. “He can produce great shots: serve, forehand, volley,” he added. “We have seen him struggle a bit recently, but I would not be surprised if he finds something again and starts producing strong results in a row.”
Their rivalry provides statistical context for the comments. Medvedev leads their head-to-head 10–5, although Tsitsipas has registered key wins, including their most recent meeting earlier this season in Doha. The pair have also crossed paths repeatedly in Grand Slam contexts, including semi-finals at the Australian Open and quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Surface adaptation and broader ATP Tour evolution
Medvedev also used his press conference to address the challenges of adapting to grass, describing surface transition as one of the most demanding aspects of the calendar. “I will be honest: I hate changing surfaces,” the former world No. 1 said. “That is why I often try to play the first grass tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, because I know the first tournament on grass is tough for me. I need time to adapt.”
He added that the physical adjustment is as important as the technical one, particularly in terms of movement and injury prevention. “Physically, you need to be careful because it’s a completely different surface in terms of movement and muscle use. Injury prevention is important,” Medvedev said. “Tennis-wise, the best way is repetition.”
Another topic raised was the broader evolution of the ATP Tour and increasing depth across the rankings. Medvedev noted that the perceived rise in speed and intensity is closely linked to the improved level of lower-ranked players.
“It’s very relative. Every time we come to a tournament, people say the court is faster or slower, or that the balls are different. It’s subjective,” he said. “In general, the top 100 is probably stronger than when I started. That may explain higher average speed. Players ranked 70 to 100 now probably play better tennis and hit harder. Young players also come through hitting the ball extremely hard. That raises the average level.”