Why is Medvedev taking this loss so well?
- Thread starter leodevlin
- Start date
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
It's possible he doesn't care as much as he did in the past, that he's settled into a life of being happy with the money and the points. He has a kid now too, he probably has a better perspective on things. He's also probably exhausted having spent more than a day of his life on the court during this tournament and so on some level maybe just glad that it's over. 
inflation_era
Rookie
He didn't have the energy having played so many 5-setters so it's a rational explanation. The Nadal loss was a mental F-up so that enraged him.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
He’s gotten comfortable in his role as the second best hardcourt player in the world and with receiving his usual trophy and usual fat paycheck.
Context is - he was having cramps in round 1 of the tournament and was super lucky that his opponent called it quits for having cramps before him.
He knows and he has said it now multiple times that he was extremely lucky to get past that. To reach finals from there - and to play three 5 setters to reach finals. While spending the most time on court in a grand slam.
He has way too much to be proud of. He had a break point in the 3rd where he chose wrong side to volley. Apart from that - it was either Sinner playing well or being tactically good in last 3 sets.
That’s the reason for this positivity. And ofcourse he has matured
He knows and he has said it now multiple times that he was extremely lucky to get past that. To reach finals from there - and to play three 5 setters to reach finals. While spending the most time on court in a grand slam.
He has way too much to be proud of. He had a break point in the 3rd where he chose wrong side to volley. Apart from that - it was either Sinner playing well or being tactically good in last 3 sets.
That’s the reason for this positivity. And ofcourse he has matured
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Maybe he is ashamed of himself for getting tight two points from likely a match-sealing break in the third set and then reverting back to pusher mode for the last two sets. A pusherman who lost like he did by losing his nerve after an amazing Federesque offensive performance for 2.5 sets doesn’t have the bluster to act out his normal spoilt kid attitude after losses.
messiahrobins
Hall of Fame
Basically he overachieved at this event so its a bonus and he probably takes the positives in that for 2 sets sinner couldnt get near him.
Indian wells inthinkmis really big and will tell us more for the season ahead, as it usually does,
messiahrobins
Hall of Fame
I think he went defensive as he had nothing left physically
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Does it make sense to play long points defensively when you are tired and think you can win that way? He should have gone all out offense on some of Sinner‘s service games early in the 4th and 5th sets to try to grab an early lead he could hold onto. Instead he reverted to his comfort zone pusher mode which takes out more energy hoping for a dip from Sinner which never materialized.
That makes sense, maybe deep down he really thought Sinner was more deserving for kicking out Djokiovic.
messiahrobins
Hall of Fame
I dont think he had anything left in the legs to push off to get the power needed
Oval_Solid
Hall of Fame
he plays tennis for the money
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
He's never seemed like a guy that gets super depressed or angry after a big loss. Usually he looks downright happy to lose to Novak in particular, which has always been weird to me.
jimdontcare
Rookie
Quick twitch vs long twitch thing, I think. He can run forever, but to take offense in points you need a different kind of timing, faster reactions, etc. Look at his approaches through the match--exceptional in the first 1.75 sets, increasingly aimless and slow through the match. And the missed volley in the game Sinner broke in the 5th probably exemplifies this difference well too.
There's probably also a mental component here, that when you are at the point of exhaustion you're inclined to go toward what you're more comfortable with because you don't have the energy to think through what to do differently.
Some version of this is probably true. I think to his post-match interview after the semi when he said he's worked on blocking out negativity.It's possible he doesn't care as much as he did in the past, that he's settled into a life of being happy with the money and the points. He has a kid now too, he probably has a better perspective on things. He's also probably exhausted having spent more than a day of his life on the court during this tournament and so on some level maybe just glad that it's over.
Subway Tennis
Legend
Different things work for different players. Some of the elite players refuse to accept losing and it spurs them on.
In Medvedev’s case, that approach doesn’t work. He prefers to be in a playful / analytical mode, and he knows enough about himself to know he needs to let those negative emotional experiences pass because harnessing them doesn’t work for him.
He wallowed so much after the Nadal final loss in 2022 that it wiped him out mentally for almost 12 months.
Medvedev is much better off compartmentalising those negatives and quickly moving on.
He is good enough to do it, too. 2019 he got slaughtered by Nadal in a masters final and less than a month later he was ready to bounce back and push Nadal to 5 sets in the US Open final.
The Mad Lad is a very unique idiosyncratic player. The rules we expect for normal ATGs and how they tolerate losses don’t apply to him.
In Medvedev’s case, that approach doesn’t work. He prefers to be in a playful / analytical mode, and he knows enough about himself to know he needs to let those negative emotional experiences pass because harnessing them doesn’t work for him.
He wallowed so much after the Nadal final loss in 2022 that it wiped him out mentally for almost 12 months.
Medvedev is much better off compartmentalising those negatives and quickly moving on.
He is good enough to do it, too. 2019 he got slaughtered by Nadal in a masters final and less than a month later he was ready to bounce back and push Nadal to 5 sets in the US Open final.
The Mad Lad is a very unique idiosyncratic player. The rules we expect for normal ATGs and how they tolerate losses don’t apply to him.
Service Ace
Hall of Fame
Because nothing could be worse than his choke against Nadal so he is not that upset as he has already had worse finals losses. Also he really has accepted that he is most likely a 1 slam wonder and is happy with that as his 1 slam was very important in the grand scheme of tennis history.
Subway Tennis
Legend
Only on Talk Tennis could we figure out a way to criticise Medvedev on the back of one of the gutsiest runs ever at a major.
The guy fought through 5 set match after 5 set match, should get bonus points for eliminating Zverev, and was the only guy who got anywhere close to eliminating Sinner and yet we’ve figured out an area to question and criticise him
The guy fought through 5 set match after 5 set match, should get bonus points for eliminating Zverev, and was the only guy who got anywhere close to eliminating Sinner and yet we’ve figured out an area to question and criticise him
darthrafa
Hall of Fame
he knew he played well and got game plan spotted on
he knew he did not have the legs to win the title when failing to win the 3rd set
he accepted the defeat with chin up
not everyone has to be a bad loser and/or smash racquets when starting loss of momentum, let alone getting defeated
he knew he did not have the legs to win the title when failing to win the 3rd set
he accepted the defeat with chin up
not everyone has to be a bad loser and/or smash racquets when starting loss of momentum, let alone getting defeated
I think it is an American thing (I am American) to think that a person must show anger and pain so everyone knows they have passion. Our sports media is everywhere, and reporters specifically speak to players as quickly as possible after games to get as much raw emotion as possible. The match was over. They are interviewed first at an award ceremony, and almost everyone knows not to taint the award ceremony. At press conferences, they have showered and had a moment to calm down. Being surly or petulant would cost him a ton in brand value. He is an experienced pro who knows the right way to handle these situations.
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
He did what he planned, wasn't harassed by the audience, lost to the guy who just beat the goat soundly. He's a fairly simple dude.
It baffles me as well.Only on Talk Tennis could we figure out a way to criticise Medvedev on the back of one of the gutsiest runs ever at a major.
The guy fought through 5 set match after 5 set match, should get bonus points for eliminating Zverev, and was the only guy who got anywhere close to eliminating Sinner and yet we’ve figured out an area to question and criticise him
He came back from 2 sets down not only once but twice to win matches. Incredible when you think about that on its own.
Oh well…a lot of members, a lot of opinions as crazy as they are.
Airspun
Professional
Trust me glad you’re not a lions or bills fan, they both had the gutsiest runs ever but no one will remember that and they will be criticized beyond imaginationOnly on Talk Tennis could we figure out a way to criticise Medvedev on the back of one of the gutsiest runs ever at a major.
The guy fought through 5 set match after 5 set match, should get bonus points for eliminating Zverev, and was the only guy who got anywhere close to eliminating Sinner and yet we’ve figured out an area to question and criticise him
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
mental midget
Hall of Fame
older, has a kid, better perspective, knows he did really well just to get there...never gave up and played as well as he could with absolutely nothing left in the tank.
even in this loss, i think he's feeling good about his game, knows he's right there with the best players...maybe found a few things he didn't know he had in this tournament. seems like he's looking forward to the year.
even in this loss, i think he's feeling good about his game, knows he's right there with the best players...maybe found a few things he didn't know he had in this tournament. seems like he's looking forward to the year.
ghostofMecir
Legend
1) He’s a multimillionaire who when he retires never has to work a day in his life again, and only focus on things that he loves to do. To be honest, I think some fans take losses with much more difficultly than do the players who of course have put everything into their careers but for many of them, even after they lose, they have amazing lives.
2) He is a new father and priorities change
3) He has already won a slam, and that slam was a historic one because it prevented Djokovic from winning a grand slam.
4) He is not and never will be considered one of the all-time greats, so one more slam or two more slams doesn’t change a thing
5) He has also reached #1, something that’s very important to the players, and something few ever get to achieve, so he isn’t trying to claw his way up there for the first time.
5) He doesn’t seem to have the personality to take losses all that badly.
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Subway Tennis
Legend
I would have loved nothing more than seeing the Lions win. Bills I don’t care about
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Well said. My respect for him went up several notches, I watched him give it ALL out there.Only on Talk Tennis could we figure out a way to criticise Medvedev on the back of one of the gutsiest runs ever at a major.
The guy fought through 5 set match after 5 set match, should get bonus points for eliminating Zverev, and was the only guy who got anywhere close to eliminating Sinner and yet we’ve figured out an area to question and criticise him
Subway Tennis
Legend
Agree. He is permanently in the record books regardless.
Impressario
Semi-Pro
Had he lost the final to his eternal friend Tsitsi, he wouldn't have been so zen
aldeayeah
G.O.A.T.
I think it's the satisfaction of having given his all.
He was 0-3 vs Sinner in the last few meetings, his fitness was shot after lots of extended matches, and he did manage to execute his plan (which was not his usual A plan) in the final until he ran out of steam. He even broke a time on court record.
Probably thought he'd done everything he could.
He didn’t change anything, it was Sinner who raised his level, and Medvedev felt tired. Medvedev has nothing to blame himself for, he did everything he could, so he is not upset.
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
I think there’s a difference in handling the loss well vs what you’ll see behind the scenes.
He showed he needed to change his game and did.
He has admitted he’s not fond of the conditions in Australia. Yet he played 4 5 setters to try and win the championship.
His legs gave out for him to keep attacking and sinner picked up his game. You honestly can say sinner was saved by the amount of time medvedev was on court. But the other argument was: med should’ve won a few matches in straight sets prior. But it is what it is.
He wasn’t going to ask for sympathy on stage. He and jannik seem to have good relationship off court and respect for each others games. It was his first GS title and he was cruising through the draw before the final. Well deserved and earned.
Had med somehow snuck that out in 3 - woulda been an unbelievable upset considering he was just out of gas.
He showed he needed to change his game and did.
He has admitted he’s not fond of the conditions in Australia. Yet he played 4 5 setters to try and win the championship.
His legs gave out for him to keep attacking and sinner picked up his game. You honestly can say sinner was saved by the amount of time medvedev was on court. But the other argument was: med should’ve won a few matches in straight sets prior. But it is what it is.
He wasn’t going to ask for sympathy on stage. He and jannik seem to have good relationship off court and respect for each others games. It was his first GS title and he was cruising through the draw before the final. Well deserved and earned.
Had med somehow snuck that out in 3 - woulda been an unbelievable upset considering he was just out of gas.
jl809
Hall of Fame
I think a big clue for me is when he speculated as to how close he actually got to winning the match in the presser.
Sure, he was up 2 sets, but he still had to win 1 more, and at no point after going up 2 sets was he ahead in another set. Sinner served first in all the remaining sets, and Medvedev only had 1 BP across all of them. He had no BPs in the 3rd or 5th. It’s like comparing Tsonga - Fed at Wim 11 to Djoker - Fed at Wim 19. So I think he’s telling himself it’s not a choke like the latter (for example)
I’m sure he’s devastated, but he’s a mature guy who knew, with his physical condition, that he only had 1 way to win yesterday - a quick kill against an overwhelmed guy - and that the odds were slim if Sinner did manage to get his **** together and start extending rallies. That started happening from 5-1 - even winning the 2nd turned into a huge struggle - and from there the window Meddy had was very small.
Sure, he was up 2 sets, but he still had to win 1 more, and at no point after going up 2 sets was he ahead in another set. Sinner served first in all the remaining sets, and Medvedev only had 1 BP across all of them. He had no BPs in the 3rd or 5th. It’s like comparing Tsonga - Fed at Wim 11 to Djoker - Fed at Wim 19. So I think he’s telling himself it’s not a choke like the latter (for example)
I’m sure he’s devastated, but he’s a mature guy who knew, with his physical condition, that he only had 1 way to win yesterday - a quick kill against an overwhelmed guy - and that the odds were slim if Sinner did manage to get his **** together and start extending rallies. That started happening from 5-1 - even winning the 2nd turned into a huge struggle - and from there the window Meddy had was very small.
ChrisJR3264
Hall of Fame
Yep. 5-1 is when you saw sinner turn his game up.
He's always like that. On top of that, he's a father now. He has other priorities.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Because he and his team got under dire circumstances almost all right. Exactly the right tactical approach executed brilliantly until he tired mentally and physically against a Sinner which got steadily into the match from at least he latter half of the second set.
To be honest his team did a better job than Vagnozzi and Cahill, I was surprised that Jannik didn't shift back sooner. Doing a bit of Meddy, so to speak, reversing their roles.
To be honest his team did a better job than Vagnozzi and Cahill, I was surprised that Jannik didn't shift back sooner. Doing a bit of Meddy, so to speak, reversing their roles.
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LOL! He cares a lot, but handled a loss he should have won, very well. Good for him!
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
In the coming months Medvedev can surpass Sampras in prize money.
It's a great "consolation", isn't it?
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