Medvedev: This Super Shot Separates Sinner from Pack

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 22, 2026
Photo credit: Miami Open by Itau

Daniil Medvedev delivered the ultimate backhanded compliment to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Asked to assess the Wimbledon winner’s game, Medvedev said one super shot separates Sinner from the rest of the ATP pack: His laser beam backhand down the line.

The rangy Sinner’s skill blowing-up rallies by blasting his backhand down the line is a primary reason why the 24-year-old Italian rides a 29-match winning streak into Paris, Medvedev told reports on Roland Garros media day today.

Last Saturday, Sinner completed a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Medvedev and become the first Italian man in Open Era history to reach back-to-back Rome finals.

That experienced reinforced Medvedev’s belief that Sinner’s skill changing direction in torching the two-hander down the line and the fact the lanky Italian straddles the baseline, which makes the down the line drive a higher-percentage play, are his primary super powers.

“I think if we compare it to any other player, the difference is that Jannik can any moment decide kind of to, let’s call it, step up and, for example, go down the line,” Medvedev told the media in Paris. “But not many players can do the backhand down the line and do it every time almost as winner.

“He can. He can do it, like, for three sets, step up, down the line, strong shot, and then he’s super fast to cover the forehand side. If you go — how you call it in English, if you try to wrong-foot him, to go on his backhand, he basically doesn’t wrong-foot, so he’s there.”

Former US Open champion said playing Sinner can cause him pleasurable pain.

“It’s just not easy to play him, but at the same time, I have to say I enjoy it,” Medvedev said. “Like I had some really good matches against him, even the ones I lost, and it’s like a tough challenge, which always I will always try to win.

“I know that I lost many matches against him lately, but some of them were pretty close, and I’m, like, okay, next time I really have to do even a bit better and get him. That’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Though Medvedev, who squandered a two-set lead bowing to Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open final, said the No. 1 has been invincible, but insists Sinner is not unbeatable.

“He’s a very, very tough player, tough opponent,” Medvedev said. “But I always say sports is sports. So he can lose.

“There’s a big chance if he plays like he plays now that he can win the whole thing, but every round someone is going to be on the other side of the court from him and try his best to beat him.

“So if I’m there, I’m actually in a way happy because it’s only in semis, I think. I’m going to try, as well.”