Daniil Medvedev has had a chance to fight against the greatest players of all time, sharing the court with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, the Russian has never experienced anything like Jannik Sinner’s level from the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh! Daniil and Jannik battled in the quarter-final in Saudi Arabia, and world no. 1 toppled world no. 5 6-0, 6-3 in 70 minutes. Medvedev praised the rival’s performance, admitting he felt good and competitive on the court. Despite having no physical issues, Daniil stood powerless against Jannik’s machine-like strokes, feeling the pressure from start to finish and leaving with three games on his tally. The Italian defeated the Russian at the Shanghai Masters and outplayed him even more convincingly in Riyadh, serving a bagel in the opener and bringing the victory home in set number two. Medvedev struggled after missing the first serve and played against incredible 18 break points, defending 13 but standing no chance after suffering five breaks against such a strong opponent.
Daniil Medvedev, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner defended all five break points, four in the eighth game of the second set, keeping his service games intact and causing the rival’s frustration. Jannik drew Daniil’s error in the opening game of the encounter for two break points. World no. 5 denied them but fell on the third after netting a volley, experiencing an early setback and losing confidence. The Russian displayed frustration already in the second game, as his rival held with a powerful serve for a 2-0 lead. Sinner made another push on the return in the third game, causing the rival’s volley error at the net with a running forehand and earning two break points. World no. 1 drew another mistake from his opponent on the first, dominating from the baseline and forging a 3-0 lead. The world’s best player attacked in the fourth game, bringing it home at love and extending the gap to 4-0. Jannik extended the fifth game after an entertaining point and squandered three break points.
Jannik Sinner, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Daniil Medvedev felt stunned by Jannik Sinner’s level in Riyadh.
The Italian welcomed the Russian’s double fault on the fourth, clinching his third consecutive break and building a 5-0 lead. Sinner served for the opener in game six and generated three set points with a service winner. Medvedev found his strokes and defended them, hitting a couple of winners and painting a backhand down the line one for a break chance. Jannik denied it with an ace down the T line and fired a service winner on a set point, bringing the opener home with a bagel in no time. Daniil denied break points in the first game of the second set and closed it with a serve & volley combo, ending his downfall. The Italian left those chances behind and landed a service winner in the second game for a hold at 15 and 1-1. Medvedev offered his opponent three break points in the third game and erased them, keeping his composure and drawing an error from the other side to rattle off five points and remain on the positive side.
Daniil Medvedev, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
World no. 1 grabbed a hold at 30 in the fourth game, leveling the score at 2-2 and maintaining the pressure on the other side. Struggling to impose his strokes, the Russian experienced more problems behind the initial shot in game five after the Italian’s backhand crosscourt winner. Sinner converted the third after Medvedev’s double fault, moving a set and a break in front and closer to the finish line. The world’s best player cemented the advantage with a hold at love in game six, opening a 4-2 gap and sailing toward the top. Daniil embraced his only comfortable hold of the match in game seven, bringing it home with a service winner and remaining within one break deficit. It gave him a boost, and we saw more from world no. 5 on the return at 3-4. Sinner missed a forehand and played against three break points, defending two with winners and reaching a deuce.
Jannik Sinner, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Medvedev squandered the fourth opportunity with a loose forehand, throwing his racquet and missing a chance to pull the break back and improve his odds. The Russian served to stay in the match at 3-5 and wasted a game point. He saved the first match point with a powerful serve but faced the second after failing to catch the rival’s drop shot. Jannik attacked and caused Daniil’s mistake, sealing the deal in style and making a winning start at the Six Kings Slam. The Italian would beat Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, lifting the trophy and taking home $6,000,000!
“Carlos can deliver incredible shots, but Jannik is more consistent, like a machine. I could not do anything against him, and I have never played against someone who performed as Jannik today. It was a strange feeling. I felt good on the court physically and fought well; still, I suffered a heavy loss. I have never experienced anything like that,” Daniil Medvedev said.