Medvedev might not perform as well as people are touting him to, but my god has he improved on clay.

[ForehandCross]

He literally hated the surface but now feels highly comfortable on it. I don't see why people are saying he will reach the finals or win the trophy, but for someone who saw him literally struggle to win two on clay earlier, it's amazing to see him straight set opponents with authority. That too I believe after an injury and minimal warm up tournaments

 

[WildRevolver]

I think it’s equally a testament to how much RG transformed itself and now plays more like a slower hardcourt.

 

[ForehandCross]

I think it’s equally a testament to how much RG transformed itself and now plays more like a slower hardcourt.

You mean Djokovic open right? @StrongRule

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

He literally hated the surface but now feels highly comfortable on it. I don't see why people are saying he will reach the finals or win the trophy, but for someone who saw him literally struggle to win two on clay earlier, it's amazing to see him straight set opponents with authority. That too I believe after an injury and minimal warm up tournaments

He didn't beat any good clay players so far.

 

[thepaint19]

He'll have a mental advantage over guys like Tsitsipas, Zverev and Alcaraz, because he's more experienced in big matches and obviously because he's won the US Open and did everything but win the AO

 

[wangs78]

It also helps that no one expects him to play that well on clay and he has few points to defend so that takes a lot of pressure off. For someone like Zverev or Tsitsipas, if they go out early, the media will start ringing alarm bells.

 

[StrongRule]

I think it’s equally a testament to how much RG transformed itself and now plays more like a slower hardcourt.

Another proof that it is DO now. Just a red hardcourt slam.

 

[InsideOut900]

He literally hated the surface but now feels highly comfortable on it. I don't see why people are saying he will reach the finals or win the trophy, but for someone who saw him literally struggle to win two on clay earlier, it's amazing to see him straight set opponents with authority. That too I believe after an injury and minimal warm up tournaments

That's the end goal, no? Gain as many points from clay as possible even without being a threat for titles.

 

[travlerajm]

He'll have a mental advantage over guys like Tsitsipas, Zverev and Alcaraz, because he's more experienced in big matches and obviously because he's won the US Open and did everything but win the AO

Also, he kind of owns Tsitsipas and Zverev.

 

[Jonesy]

I think it’s equally a testament to how much RG transformed itself and now plays more like a slower hardcourt.

It might be the balls, Medvedev said last year about the Wilson balls:

“Actually UTS where I was practicing, I felt that I recovered from COVID completely, so I was practicing like crazy, a lot of hours,” he said. “I just couldn't make shots work. I was really, I would say, disgusting feeling. As soon as I came here these balls are much lighter, they go faster in the air, so that's why I can make them also drop faster before the baseline and stuff like this.”

 

[duaneeo]

He literally hated the surface but now feels highly comfortable on it. I don't see why people are saying he will reach the finals or win the trophy, but for someone who saw him literally struggle to win two on clay earlier, it's amazing to see him straight set opponents with authority.

When those opponents are Bagnis and Djere, not really.

 

[ForehandCross]

When those opponents are Bagnis and Djere, not really.

When he was losing in R1 in many previous RGs, yes it is.

 

[duaneeo]

When he was losing in R1 in many previous RGs, yes it is.

Medvedev made the QF last year. Heap on the praise once he at least does that (which he should do being in the bottom half).

 

[UnderratedSlam]

He reached Monte Carlo semis in 2019, so it's not as if he was completely useless before.

And last year's FO QF. Not bad for someone "bad" on clay, and hating it.

So why are we shocked he reached the 3rd round here.

 

[The Guru]

Reality is Med's game isn't that bad on clay. He was never going to be Roddick bad. He just goes from the 2-4 range on HC (with Carlos and Rafa) to more like the 8-12 range on the dirt.