Daniil Medvedev produced a stunning victory over Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Indian Wells final.
Medvedev became the first player to beat Alcaraz this year, as he ended the Spaniard’s 16-match winning streak with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory.
The conditions were very hot during the semifinal match, which Alcaraz has since admitted he struggled with against Medvedev.
When reacting to Medvedev’s shock victory over the world number one, 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova had a big question she wanted to ask him.
Martina Navratilova reacts to Daniil Medvedev’s ‘unheard of’ serving statistics vs Carlos Alcaraz
Navratilova reacted to Medvedev’s win over Alcaraz after the match, praising him for how well he started the match.
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After suggesting that Alcaraz should have used more variety, Navratilova mentioned Medvedev’s ‘unheard of’ serving statistics, having won more points on his second serve than his first serve.
“Top players are usually great frontrunners…You have to get off to a good start and Daniil did just that, really neutralized Carlos’ power, returned from so far back,” Navratilova said on Sky Sports. “I’m surprised Carlos didn’t throw up some serve and volley, mix it up a little bit, because Carlos was so far back on those returns.
“But then the second serve return again, Daniil I want to ask him what his plan was because he won 74% on his second serve, that’s unheard of almost, even better with the second serve than the first and get off again to a good start, get those opportunities and grab them right away.
“Carlos just missing too many rally balls, not when he’s going for a winner but just a rally shot, which is unusual for him.”
Medvedev won 64% of his points on his first serve, compared to 74% of his points on second serve.
The former world number one was only broken once by Alcaraz in the second set, but Medvedev broke straight back.
| Daniil Medvedev’s serving statistics vs Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells | |
| Aces | 4 |
| Double Faults | 0 |
| First Serve % | 59% |
| First Serve Win % | 64% |
| Second Serve Win % | 74% |
| Games Broken | 1 |
What did Daniil Medvedev say in response to Martina Navratilova’s question?
Navratilova did in fact stick to her word and ask Medvedev about his serving statistics in an interview shortly after the match.
Medvedev admitted that he had no idea how this had happened, before claiming that he was actually a ‘little bit disappointed’ by it as the first serve win percentage should be higher.
“I have not exactly an idea, because usually when you play Carlos you have to be ready that on second serve you struggle, that’s just how it is,” Medvedev responded to Navratilova.
“I managed to find a little bit more rhythm on my serve which was bothering him a bit, so you could see that he was struggling a bit if he returns close or far, so I think that cost him a little bit of, not energy exactly, but a little bit of mindset as well. It gave me a little bit of confidence to see that he was struggling a bit on return, so I was just doing what I can.
“But in a way I am a little bit disappointed and happy, because it should be higher on the first serve, but that’s what made me win the match I guess on the second serve.”
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Medvedev will be hoping that his first serve win percentage is higher for the Indian Wells final against Jannik Sinner, as well as maintaining his second serve statistics.
Having lost his two previous finals at Indian Wells against Alcaraz, Medvedev will be hoping it is third time lucky for him against Sinner.
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