Medvedev calls Sinner and Alcaraz exceptional after quick Almaty win
Daniil Medvedev defeated Sho Shimabukuro 6-2, 6-1 in 52 minutes to reach the Almaty quarter-finals. He said Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are unusually talented but stressed that staying healthy is part of the sport and that both had fitness problems this year. Medvedev added that against them the aim is to win as many matches as possible.
Medvedev’s 52-minute second-round victory in Almaty was built on seven aces and 79% first serves. He saved three break points while moving to 4-2 in the opening set, then broke once in the second. The defending champion has now won five consecutive matches at the event and reached his 99th tour-level quarter-final, his 10th this season.
He sits sixth in the Race to Turin, 590 points ahead of Alex de Minaur, and will meet Terence Atmane next. Medvedev’s remarks about Sinner and Alcaraz came as Alexander Zverev was poised to take No. 1, with Sinner sidelined for the rest of the year and Zverev already securing the year-end top ranking.
Medvedev’s comments may shape fan discussion around talent, durability and scheduling, especially for followers of Sinner and Alcaraz. The quick win could raise the Almaty tournament’s visibility and give local spectators a stronger connection to the top seed. For players and coaches, the emphasis on health could reinforce how workload management affects careers, though it is unlikely to settle broader debates about dominance or ranking fairness.