Medvedev outplayed Stefanos Tsitsipas, blending strategic excellence with random, off-the-cuff decision making
As Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas prepared to reignite their young, fiery rivalry in the pressure cooker of an
Australian Open semi-final, all the usual narratives took hold. Aside from the very enjoyable drama – their mutual dislike stems from their clash after a match in Miami two years ago that ended with Medvedev uttering the line: “Man, you better shut your fuck up, OK?” – it was the clash of styles that seemed to be a particular fascination.
Tsitsipas, with his single-handed backhand and his firm embrace of the net, is often positioned as an heir to the
Roger Federer and Pete Sampras lineage of classic single-handed players. The image is accentuated by his good looks and heritage, which leads to an overwhelming number of references to Greek philosophers and mythology including, of course, “Greek God”.