Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev will face each other on clay for the first time when they meet in the semifinals of the Italian Open.
Their most recent clash came earlier this year in the Indian Wells Open final, but this will be their first match on clay. Sinner currently leads their head-to-head 9-7 and is riding a four-match win streak against Medvedev.
The Russian's most recent win in the matchup came at Wimbledon in 2024, where he edged Sinner in a five-set battle.
This time, conditions couldn't be more different. Speaking to Tennis Channel, Jim Courier explained why he thinks Medvedev will need to take a more proactive approach on clay.
Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Courier, speaking to Tennis Channel, shared his thoughts on how Medvedev might approach this match:
"Well, he rushed Sinner at the Australian Open a few years back in the final, really out of necessity.
"It wasn't because maybe he thought it was the best tactic. It was because he was dead. He'd played so many five-set matches that he didn't have the legs to play his normal defensive positioning.
"So he came in, returned serve very close in and was hyper aggressive. Sinner figured it out and won his first major, and he's hardly looked back since, so I'm looking for aggression from Medvedev.
"He's been trying to do a little bit more of that this season anyway. So I'm looking for more of that with his new team in place.
"I think that's what they'll suggest, but it's nighttime. It's tough to get the ball through, and Sinner has so much more control of his topspin shots because Medvedev is so flat.
"Sinner hits so much topspin on the forehand and the backhand, and he can rip anytime he wants with a lot of safety.
"Medvedev cannot. He has got to play such a high-risk game to make this even competitive in their very first meeting on clay."
Reacting to Courier's comments, Tracy Austin said: "They played on grass, and that's the last time Medvedev won."
And that was when Sinner wasn't quite as comfortable on that surface, and Medvedev hits so low, it was effective. I just think it's gonna be a real uphill battle, Sinner in straights."
Courier replied: "Yeah, and I love Medvedev. I'm in the bag for Medvedev. He's the most fun person to talk to on the court at the Australian Open for me. He's incredible, but I don't think this is a good matchup for him right now."
Sinner has not been defeated at the ATP Masters 1000 level since Paris in 2025 and is chasing his sixth title in a row at this tier.
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