Andy Roddick, ever since retiring from professional tennis, has developed into one of the sport’s most influential and prevalent voices.
His podcast and appearances on numerous channels help elevate his opinions to new heights, and as a well-spoken and intelligent pundit who played the game at the top level for well over a decade, his input is supremely valuable.
So, when he praises someone, and compares them to the greatest of their generation, people should stand up and take note.
Andy Roddick left stunned by Daniil Medvedev’s Wimbledon runs
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one offered his verdict on one rampant Russian who is cooking up a storm in SW19: ’One of the last guys that you want to play if you’re not feeling up to it physically, mentally, is Daniil Medvedev.
‘Listen. The top line of these guys: Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak. Different from the rest of the earth. If they’re not feeling great, if they’re not at their best, the person that steps in consistently and beats these guys on major stages is Daniil Medvedev.
‘Former number one, beat one Novak Djokovic in the finals of the US Open, has played countless others, as up a couple sets on Sinner in Australia earlier this year in the final, he had just played too much tennis.
‘Bet against the greats at your own peril. Medvedev is one of those greats. Doesn’t get talked about enough in the same breath, just a quality, quality player all around.’
Andy Roddick would then move on to his return of serve, a tool that has made him such a formidable opponent: ‘Daniil Medvedev can do that. He gets a percentage of returns in play, he has to be near the top on tour. I don’t know the stat but I would be stunned if he’s outside the top three to five.
‘Listen, Medvedev doesn’t miss many opportunities to be a complete pain in the ass to these top guys. And he is one of the top guys.
‘But, again, if you’re feeling less than, or your game is not quite there, Medvedev is going to take you out more often than not.’
Daniil Medvedev could cause Carlos Alcaraz some problems
Medvedev, for some time now, has been consistently threatening at the back end of Grand Slam tournaments.
With five finals, two semi-finals and a quarter-final to his name, during an era where Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have still been pretty present, he has remained remarkable.
And to win one too, against the Serbian superstar at the US Open, is even more impressive.
He is a remarkable all-court competitor, and is set to cause Carlos Alcaraz all kinds of problems in their upcoming Wimbledon clash.
Against a visibly injured Jannik Sinner yesterday, he brought the energy and made intelligent tactical decisions mid-match to take the game to the 22-year-old.
Given how typically the Spaniard has suffered from slow stars, the match could already be behind him before he knows it if he does not bring his A game.
Medvedev’s unorthodox but hugely effective game style is great to watch, and his personality is hilarious too. He deserves all the success and adulation that comes his way.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
