Daniil Medvedev calls old generations ‘worse’ than Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

[aldeayeah]

Following his defeat to Zverev, Medvedev told reporters in a press conference that it will not be shameful if the next generation win less than the Big Three, as the previous generation before them also won less.

Medvedev said “when there was [Bjorn] Borg and [John] McEnroe, when they were close, finished their careers, everybody was like, ‘tennis is over, we won’t ever have any great players, it’s finished’.

“[Then] we did have some. [Pete] Sampras, [Andre] Agassi, they were at the top. [When] Sampras retired, [people were thinking once again] ‘Okay, tennis is over.’”

“Then we had Novak [Djokovic], Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal]. If you asked just before they came, everybody would say, ‘Well, tennis will not be interesting anymore.’

“It’s the same here. Tennis is a great sport, so I don’t see why our generation would miss [out] on something.

“Of course, maybe we don’t [win] 20 Grand Slams [each], yet nobody [else] did before Roger, Rafa and Novak, so they were also worse than them… It’s definitely not going to be a shame [if we win less].”​

https://tennis head.net/medvedev-calls-old-generations-worse-than-djokovic-federer-and-nadal

as you can see, the headline is heavily sensationalistic, but don't let that get in the way of discussion!

med TTW poster confirmed

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Push gen is hurtbutt at the notion of not being historically great at all, try to paint themselves as deserving of equal or better glory than older generations. Such self-serving sillies.

The name of the article writer is Luke BOATfield btw, nice joke there bro.

 

[Jonesy]

He is not wrong, except he is also part of the Djokovic era that is far from over.

 

[BH40love]

Federer and Nadal came before Djokovic, I wonder if Danii knows

 

[mike danny]

Umm, Daniil, they have won 20 GS because of you guys.

 

[UnforcedTerror]

Med is just stating the obvious here.

 

[maratha_warrior]

Basically he is saying 2+2= 4 .

Nothing to disagree here .

 

[mike danny]

It's not about winning 20 GS, Daniil, it's about the fact that there have been only 2 slam winners born in the 90's.

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Agassi and sampras would mope the floor with you, bruh. Especially sampras.

 

[MeatTornado]

It's not about winning 20 GS, Daniil, it's about the fact that there have been only 2 slam winners born in the 90's.

He probably thinks he's still winning 6-10 slams even though he's already 25

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Spending too much time playing Fifa.

 

[mike danny]

He probably thinks he's still winning 6-10 slams even though he's already 25

And as proven by this year and last, he'll never really be a dominant HC player.

 

[TheAssassin]

Everything he said was true. I don't see the problem...

 

[MeatTornado]

Everything he said was true. I don't see the problem...

No one is expecting them to win as much as the Big 3, but he's complaining like that's the bar they're being held to.

 

[ElChivoEspañol]

He’s got one think right, no one is winning 20 slams any time soon. They’d have to dumb down slams to BO3.

To which I’d say tennis will be nearing its death.

 

[TheAssassin]

No one is expecting them to win as much as the Big 3, but he's complaining like that's the bar they're being held to.

Clearly, "complaining" has become a term broader than ever before. Not so surprising since that's what happens around here for the most part.

And the article did a nice sneaky job to leave out what was Medvedev actually responding to, because I highly doubt this was some sort of an opening statement from him at the conference lol...

 

[Red Rick]

Umm, Daniil, they have won 20 GS because of you guys.

They also played each other hundreds of times.

 

[RaulRamirez]

The things people b#tch and moan about. There's nothing to complain about here for anyone rational.

Anyway, to those celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving to you and those close to you.

 

[mike danny]

They also played each other hundreds of times.

Sure, but since 2016, Roger jumped from 17 to 20, Nadal from 14 to 20 and Djokovic from 12 to 20 thanks to the Next Gen.

 

[tennis_pro]

[][][][][][][][] jesus christ man no need for the 100 explanations

(Andre) Agassi. Seriously? What other Agassi could Medvedev be talking about here?

 

[Sudacafan]

Following his defeat to Zverev, Medvedev told reporters in a press conference that it will not be shameful if the next generation win less than the Big Three, as the previous generation before them also won less.​

​

Medvedev said “when there was [Bjorn] Borg and [John] McEnroe, when they were close, finished their careers, everybody was like, ‘tennis is over, we won’t ever have any great players, it’s finished’.​

​

“[Then] we did have some. [Pete] Sampras, [Andre] Agassi, they were at the top. [When] Sampras retired, [people were thinking once again] ‘Okay, tennis is over.’”​

​

“Then we had Novak [Djokovic], Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal]. If you asked just before they came, everybody would say, ‘Well, tennis will not be interesting anymore.’​

​

“It’s the same here. Tennis is a great sport, so I don’t see why our generation would miss [out] on something.​

​

“Of course, maybe we don’t [win] 20 Grand Slams [each], yet nobody [else] did before Roger, Rafa and Novak, so they were also worse than them… It’s definitely not going to be a shame [if we win less].”​

https://tennis head.net/medvedev-calls-old-generations-worse-than-djokovic-federer-and-nadal

as you can see, the headline is heavily sensationalistic, but don't let that get in the way of discussion!

med TTW poster confirmed

Tennis is over. Again. Repeat cycle.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

The old generation didn't play on homogenized conditions year round. Whos to say whos better than who? Pete's resume would be greater than the Big 3, By farrrr and it wouldnt' even be close if he got to play on year round fast surfaces. And Maybe Med, your gen and the one previously just SUCKS. Thats why the Big 3 have 60 slams.

The big 3 are just taking advantage of scrubs like you.. Who plays like a pusher when they're 6 foot 6? LOL

 

[big ted]

Medvedev said “when there was [Bjorn] Borg and [John] McEnroe, when they were close, finished their careers, everybody was like, ‘tennis is over, we won’t ever have any great players, it’s finished’.

[When] Sampras retired, [people were thinking once again] ‘Okay, tennis is over.’”

i dont remember anyone saying this...

 

[MeatTornado]

Clearly, "complaining" has become a term broader than ever before. Not so surprising since that's what happens around here for the most part.

And the article did a nice sneaky job to leave out what was Medvedev actually responding to, because I highly doubt this was some sort of an opening statement from him at the conference lol...

This was the question

Q. Novak Djokovic is still No. 1, you're No. 2, Roger Federer is missing probably for a long time, Alexander Zverev won this tournament twice now, never beat a top-10 player in a Grand Slam tournament. Where is tennis standing for 2022 with the young players?


It's an even more peculiar answer with context imo. Although it's definitely an unfair question with that line about Zverev, he shouldn't be asked to comment on that. But taking a question about why they still aren't really breaking through and essentially flipping it into "well, even Borg & Sampras are worse than the Big 3" is deflecting. No one is expecting the NextGen to win 20 slams, of course it won't be a shame or a failure if they don't reach those heights. But we're expecting at least one of them reach somewhere in the ballpark of those "worse" players he referenced.

I get that they're sick of being compared to the Big 3 since they're on tour competing together, but the questions the tennis community have are about why they can't do better against older, diminished versions of them. Not why their careers don't stack up.

What I do agree with is that tennis isn't going to die when they retire. He's right that every time a sports legend retires we wax poetic about how it'll never be the same, there will never be anyone as great, it's only downhill from here, blah blah blah. And it's usually not true. But that also doesn't mean I believe any of his generation will become all-time greats. His generation will definitely "miss out on something" at this pace. It's not some

 

[DjokoLand]

See even Sampras who was goat before the big 3 had big weaknesses over surfaces like Clay. The big 3 are all rounded.
People always say imagine Djokovic vs Sampras on old grass he be mauled but then forgot to say imagine Sampras vs Djokovic at AO on the surface now or Nadal at RG ?

 

[D.Nalby12]

There is a lot difference between being "worse" an being "useless". There is no ATG player in 90's generation. Far from it - there is not even multiple slam winner in young generation..

 

[TennisLurker]

How good would Djokovic be with an 85 inches racket with only natural gut strings?

 

[chrischris]

Agassi and sampras would mope the floor with you, bruh. Especially sampras.

Pete would have.. Using his serve to its fullest since Daiils position offers such Angeles.
Dre im not sure but prolly 6 of ten or 7 of ten

 

[The Big Foe fan]

Pete would have.. Using his serve to its fullest since Daiils position offers such Angeles.
Dre im not sure but prolly 6 of ten or 7 of ten

Agassi's power would be too much for daniil

 

[The Big Foe fan]

And as proven by this year and last, he'll never really be a dominant HC player.

I wish fedal would be there to expose him