Look at Daniil Medvedev’s face during a match.
It’s usually blank.
I mean, truly blank.
No emotion, no celebration when he hits a winner, just a focused stare at the ball.
Most tennis fans find this annoying.
Some even call him boring.
But here is the thing: you should probably be worried if you’re playing against him.
We’re talking about the guy who ended Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open reign in 2023.
That wasn’t luck.
That was grinding.
If you’re trying to understand how Daniil Medvedev became a World No. But there’s a catch.
1, you can’t just look at his backhand.
You have to look at his mind and his obsession with being late.
It’s weird, but it works.
Let’s break down what makes him tick and why his style is so effective.
The “Retriever” vs. And this is where things get interesting.
The Counterpuncher
People love to call him a retriever.
That’s not fair. But there’s a catch.
Okay, maybe a little fair.
He doesn’t have the raw power of a Djokovic or the topspin of an Alcaraz.
He doesn’t have the serve that blasts you off the court like a Tsitsipas.
But Daniil Medvedev never misses.
This is the key.
In real situations, most players go for a risky shot to try and end the point.
Medvedev goes for the safest shot that keeps the ball in play.
From what I’ve seen in his matches, his strategy is simple: win the points you can, but win the points you can’t.
He uses his incredible two-handed backhand to turn high balls into low balls.
Then, he moves you side to side until you make a mistake.
It’s exhausting.
And it’s brilliant.
The Mental Game: The Clock and The Death Stare
Let’s talk about the weird stuff.
Remember when he arrived at the US Open 2024? He said, “I am not a good loser.” But more importantly, he said, “I am always late.” He literally tries to make every match start as late as possible. But there’s a catch.
Why? Because he wants you to be tired.
He wants you to be rushing.
Then there’s the face.
He stares at his opponent with intense focus.
It’s not aggression; it’s a calculator.
He’s counting the unforced errors he’s already won.
Many people overlook how much pressure he feels to win a Grand Slam.
Before 2021, everyone asked, “When will he lose in the final?” Now, everyone asks, “Why isn’t he winning more?” That shift in perspective shows how far he’s come.
Technical Breakdown: Where He Wins
It’s not just about keeping the ball in play.
His movement has improved massively over the last few years.
When he was younger, he looked a bit stiff.
Now? He slides better than almost everyone on tour.
This allows him to hit winners from angles that look impossible.
- The Forehand: It’s his weapon.
It’s flat and punchy.
He uses it to hit passing shots down the line when he’s caught far behind the baseline.
- The Backhand: The ultimate defensive tool.
It neutralizes high balls and attacks low balls.
- The Return: This is scary.
He actually has one of the best returns in the game.
He waits for the opponent to make a mistake first.
The Coaching Change and New Gear
You know things are changing when your coach leaves.
The departure of Gilles Cervara was a big deal.
But the arrival of Giovanni Mpetperi Perricard, the French guy with the long hair, changed his attitude.
Perricard pushes him to be more aggressive.
It’s interesting to see how the equipment has evolved too.
He’s moved away from the pure baseline basher look. And this is where things get interesting.
He’s experimenting with slightly more power.
It’s a balancing act.
He can’t lose his defense, or he becomes easy to beat.
He has to find that sweet spot where he can dictate the points he wants.
Why His Style Works Right Now
We live in an era of heavy topspin.
Everyone tries to blast the ball from the back of the court.
But heavy topspin has a limit.
It goes long.
Medvedev plays with a lot less spin and more pace.
This makes his shots bounce lower and harder to attack.
Plus, players are getting faster.
But Medvedev’s footwork is elite.
He is rarely out of position.
If you want to learn from him, don’t try to copy his serve.
That’s genetic.
Try to copy his patience.
Try to copy his ability to turn a losing game into a winning one.
Is He The Most Underrated Player?
I’m not sure about underrated, because he’s been in the top 4 for years.
But he is definitely the most misunderstood.
He doesn’t dance around the net like Federer.
He doesn’t scream at himself like Nadal.
He just stands there and hits.
But in the modern ATP tour, that “boring” style is actually a superpower.
It confuses people.
They want him to miss, so they swing harder.
And that’s when he pounces.
Who knows what’s next for him? Wimbledon is still the one trophy missing. But there’s a catch.
But if he keeps grinding like this, he’s going to add plenty more. Here’s the interesting part.
You gotta respect the grind.
Image source: pexels.com
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Here’s the interesting part.
Image source credit: pexels.com
