“The most underappreciated player ever,” Andy Roddick gushes in praise of Daniil Medvedev- the formidable force in NextGen tennis

Daniil Medvedev lost his third consecutive Australian Open final on Sunday.

“The most underappreciated player ever,” Andy Roddick gushes in praise of Daniil Medvedev- the formidable force in NextGen tennis

Daniil Medvedev, Andy Roddick (Images via X, Texas Monthly)

Russian tennis ace Daniil Medvedev missed out on yet another opportunity to win his second Grand Slam as he lost to Jannik Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open final.

Despite winning the first two sets, Medvedev lost the match in five sets, just like he lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Australian Open final. This was Medevedv’s third consecutive defeat in an Australian Open final.

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Quite obviously, after the loss, the Russian was criticized. Many even claimed that Medvedev might end up as a ‘one-slam wonder’. This is because the 27-year-old has not been able to win his second Grand Slam title despite making it to three finals after his first title.

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With Medvedev facing the heat from the fans and experts, former American tennis ace Andy Roddick has come to the Russian ace’s defense. 

One of the most underappreciated players ever. And I’ll throw myself under the bus on this one. 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. And I’ll just tell everyone right now, he’s better than I ever was.
Andy Roddick said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.

Roddick, who himself won a solitary Grand Slam title, said that Medvedev is among the most underappreciated players ever. Roddick said that Medvedev has achieved so much that calling him a one-slam wonder would be idiotic. 

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.
Andy Roddick further stated.

Andy Roddick defends Daniil Medvedev after third consecutive defeat at Australian Open final

Andy Roddick also defended Daniil Medvedev over his third consecutive defeat in an Australian Open final. Roddick said that while many may criticize the Russian ace for giving it away against Jannik Sinner after being two sets up, it was not his fault as his opponent played better.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X)

Roddick also remembered how Medvedev has had to face the best players whenever he has played in an Australian Open final. It is worth mentioning that Medvedev has lost three finals to three different players. While he lost to Sinner this year, Medvedev was defeated by Nadal in 2022. In 2021, Novak Djokovic got the best out of the Russian. 

I know we always celebrate the winner and people are gonna knock Medvedev for being up two sets & he let it go – that’s trash if you do that. 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. 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.
Andy Roddick said.

Notably, Medvedev has been phenomenal on hardcourt Grand Slam tournaments. The Russian won his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open and also made it to the finals in 2023. He reached finals at the Australian Open in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

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