There’s no doubt that Medvedev is among the very best of his generation. Still, in some ways, his Melbourne Park debut being set for Day 3—after Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Gauff and Swiatek were all slated to get started on Monday—is fitting for someone who is a bit pushed to the side by others with more acclaim.
After all, Medvedev’s career bridged two sets of greatness: The Big Three of Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer—with 66 Grand Slam trophies among them—and the new duo at the top of men’s tennis, Alcaraz and Sinner, two guys who are barely into their early 20s but already have combined to win six major championships, including all four in 2024.
Medvedev has blocked their paths a few times at big events, though. He eliminated Sinner at Wimbledon in July, and Alcaraz at the US Open in 2023 and Wimbledon in 2021.
And Medvedev, who reached No. 1 in 2022, says his aim for 2025 is to improve to the point that he can continue to beat a couple of guys he called “The Big Two.”
“It’s a tough challenge. It’s not easy. And I need to find a way to be a better version of myself to be able to do it,” Medvedev said. “That’s going to be the big goal.”
