Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion and world No. 11, shared his tactical approach to the third-round match at the Rome Masters against Australian Alexei Popyrin, whom he defeated 6/4, 6/1.
Responding to a question about trying to take Popyrin out of his comfort zone, Medvedev said he largely succeeded. He noted that Popyrin`s backhand is weaker than his forehand, and hitting to his left side doesn`t allow him to finish points immediately. However, Medvedev explained that to effectively target the backhand, one often needs to first hit to the forehand, but with sufficient quality to prevent Popyrin from attacking. He emphasized the importance of varying play, alternating between hitting to the left and right sides, and moving Popyrin around the court. Medvedev also reiterated that Popyrin is always capable of hitting powerful shots that can result in either a winner or an error. Medvedev highlighted his strong serve as a key factor in his victory.
Addressing his concerns before the match, Medvedev confirmed they were present, citing Popyrin`s high level of play demonstrated previously, for example, in Montreal. Medvedev described Popyrin as a player who doesn`t adapt his game much to the opponent but instead plays his own aggressive, attacking tennis, often hitting forehands with full power and coming to the net. Therefore, tactics against him rely on focusing on small details, many of which depend more on Popyrin`s play than on one`s own actions. Medvedev noted that in this match Popyrin made slightly more errors than usual. Medvedev expressed satisfaction with his own performance in key moments, where he managed to create difficulties for his opponent, which ultimately led to the win.
