Another No-Sweat Victory for Medvedev

[glenda]

Alcarez, Rune, Sinner and others of the new-generation wave have thrilled by extraordinary shot making. They exhibit high effort side-to-side and up-and-back phenomenal court coverage. And they turn defense into instant winners. Of course, after all the effort, they sweat and grab a towel to dry off while taking a short break to recharge their energy before the next point. But the new wave is discovering that the old ways still win matches and 1000 tournaments as Medvedev achieved on Sunday in the 1000 Italian tournament, pretty much without a sweat - I mean that literally. In matches, hardly no sweat appears on Medvedev. And after a routine Medvedev long grinding side-to-side point, which is usually unspectacular but a point he usually wins, sweatless Medvedev immediately lines up for the next point. He doesn't need a towel to dry off, and he doesn't need a short break to regain his breath. Really, I can't recall seeing Medvedev showing fatigue, including after another typical Medvedev 25-shot rally of standard backhand and forehand baseline shots with Medvedev chasing down an opponent's drop shot. And then the sweatless, tireless Medvedev slaps the dropper for a winner ending a point, as he moves on in a match wearing out his opponent physically and mentally by his endless, tireless repetition.

 

[Wander]

I do think that this is part of the Medvedev strategy with starting points quickly on his own serve. Medvedev knows that in this kind of a continuous grind of rallies he can outlast pretty much anyone on the tour and that his ability to play point after point at a consistent level is better than just about anyone not named Novak Djokovic.

It's also nice to see him play at his best level again this year.

 

[Tennfan123]

A lot of the time he’s not even running much. Just in the middle of the baseline sending balls back again and again. Not really very tiring.

 

[glenda]

Certainly, Medvedev can race and track down baseline-sideline shots and hit the shots successfully returning the play back to neutral, back to center baseline play. Good observation, Tennfan. Now, let's proceed somewhat further into a baseline Medvedev rally. When he moves from afar to near the baseline in a rally, I safely wager on Medvedev winning the point.

 

[glenda]

I do think that this is part of the Medvedev strategy with starting points quickly on his own serve. Medvedev knows that in this kind of a continuous grind of rallies he can outlast pretty much anyone on the tour and that his ability to play point after point at a consistent level is better than just about anyone not named Novak Djokovic.

It's also nice to see him play at his best level again this year.

I'm certain that Medvedev quickly moving from one point to the next serve or return position naturally fits him. Still, I agree that the quick between-point pace unsettles his opponent, working so hard to stay in a point and perhaps win the point. And then there stands Medvedev ready to go again to another long rally if necessary. Believe me, the opponent thinks, "God, it's so hard, I have to work so hard, to win just one point against him, and he still looks fresh as a daisy."

 

[Rosstour]

5/5 isn't really "No sweat", no?

 

[80s New Wave]

Medvedev has mastered Saber metric tennis. Win as many free points on serve as possible while preventing your opponent from doing the same. The points that have a rally are generally going to hover around 50/50 so the advantage in serve points generally translates to winning matches.

 

[glenda]

Medvedev has mastered Saber metric tennis. Win as many free points on serve as possible while preventing your opponent from doing the same. The points that have a rally are generally going to hover around 50/50 so the advantage in serve points generally translates to winning matches.

O.K., if Medvedev succeeds in merely winning some 50 percent of long rallies, Medvedev, when on top of his game, still wins on long points he losses, as Medvedev squeezes his hands tighter around the opponent's throat. The opponent not desiring another long rally resorts to higher risk shots or chokes on a routine shot. Meanwhile, Medvedev remains satisfied and confident with his routine and his 133 m.p.h. serves, occasionally including spearing second serves. Let's not forget that Medvedev routinely hits penetrating deep shots and flatter shots skidding low on sliding bounces near the service line, even on clay.