Daniil Medvedev suffered another tough loss from two sets up in a Grand Slam final (Image: Getty)
Andy Roddick made an impassioned statement about Daniil Medvedev after the world No. 3 suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Australian Open final.
Andy Roddick leapt to Daniil Medvedev’s defence as the world No. 3 suffered his fifth defeat in a Grand Slam final at the recent Australian Open. Although Medvedev is former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, Roddick believes the 27-year-old is “underappreciated” and said he would throw himself under the bus to support Daniil Medvedev.
Medvedev is now 1-6 in Grand Slam finals and earned an unwanted record when he was defeated by Jannik Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 at the Australian Open. The Russian became the first player to lose multiple Major finals from two sets up. He also had a lead over Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Aussie Open before falling in five.
Given his record in championship matches at the biggest tournament, Medvedev has faced some criticism from some who suggest he could be a ‘one-Slam wonder’. But former world No. 1 Roddick slammed Medvedev’s doubters and claimed that the 27-year-old deserved more appreciation.
“One of the most underappreciated players ever. And I’ll throw myself under the bus on this one,” Roddick said on his new Served podcast. “Twitter the other day, there’s some conversation going and I get looped in and they’re going, someone said, ‘Medvedev’s the best player ever that has one Slam.’ And I was the answer of the counter.”
Roddick is regarded as a recent legend in the sport, reaching the top of the rankings and winning the 2003 US Open. Like Medvedev, he suffered his fair share of Grand Slam defeats – four to be exact. But he believes that the world No. 3 is already better than he was.
The 41-year-old continued: “And I’ll just tell everyone right now, he’s better than I ever was. He has 20-something-odd titles. He’s won however many Masters Series events, one World Tour Finals, has been No. 1 in the world, oh by the way, beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam final.
“He has put himself there, I mean he’s been in back-to-back Grand Slam finals. This guy is better. If anyone calls him a ‘one Slam wonder’, they’re idiots and don’t know what they’re talking about.” While Medvedev has suffered some brutal defeats in Major finals, Roddick also said it was “trash” to bash the former No. 1 for losing his lead against Sinner.
“I know we always celebrate the winner and people are gonna knock Medvedev for being up two sets and he let it go, that’s trash if you do that,” the American added. “Because that’s in no way representative of what he did this entire tournament and what frankly he’s done for five or six years.”
“This is his sixth Major final now and I don’t feel like we give him enough credit. I’ve never left a final watching Medvedev and thought he’s blown it or given it away. He makes someone earn it every single time. He’s played Rafa twice, Novak twice and an in-form Sinner. It’s just the way it goes. I lost four finals and won one. Sometimes you just come up against someone better on the day.”
Medvedev had an incredible run at the recent Australian Open, coming back from two-sets down on two occasions. He played until 3.40am to pull off the comeback against Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round. And he was two points from defeat in the semi-final against Alexander Zverev before storming back to reach the final.
