Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev have built an impressive rivalry over the years, and the next chapter of it will be written at the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
Both players have won a Grand Slam trophy in their careers and reached the World No. 1 rank on the ATP Tour. One of them is currently occupying it and will also enter this matchup as a slight favorite.
In Shanghai, Sinner beat Taro Daniel in straight sets, Tomas Martin Etcheverry in three sets, and Ben Shelton in two sets to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Medvedev, like his upcoming opponent, also lost one set in his second match. First, he beat Thiago Seyboth Wild in two sets, then Matteo Arnaldi in three sets, before ousting Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
For both, this will be a challenging match. Naturally, given their rivalry, both were asked about the upcoming meeting after their fourth-round wins, and both recognized the opponent's qualities.
"With Sinner, I mean, we played already four times this year. I think one was very easy for him. The other three were tougher, I played well in some of them. I'm going to bring the fight, I'm going to prepare tactically, mentally, physically. It's going to be a tough match, so hopefully my body feels well, and I'm ready to bring the fight and go for it."
"Yeah, tough match, of course. We know each other quite well now, we know exactly what to expect, more or less. But, of course, he will change a couple of things, and I will change, and then we'll see what's coming out. Of course, it's going to be a very tough match, physical match, mental match, and also tactical, so let's see what's coming."
So far, the two have met 13 times on the tennis courts, and it's been one of the most bizarre rivalries ever. First, Medvedev won the first six matches, completely dominating the rivalry and leading 6-0 after beating the Italian in Marseille in 2020 and 2021, at the ATP Finals in 2021, in Vienna in 2022, and in Rotterdam and Miami in 2023.
However, late last year, Sinner completely flipped the script. He won five matches in a row, beating the Russian in Beijing, Vienna, and at the ATP Finals. This year, he bested him at the Australian Open and in Miami.
Medvedev was then able to stop his rival's streak by winning at Wimbledon in a brutal five-setter 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, before Sinner won the other Grand Slam match they played this year, which happened at the US Open.
Overall, Medvedev leads the H2H 7-6. This year, Sinner leads 3-1. In hard-court matches, the H2H is tied at 6-6, as only one of their matches was played on a different surface than a hard court, and that was at this year's Wimbledon. When it comes to outdoor hard courts, Sinner leads 4-1.
| Jannik Sinner | Daniil Medvedev | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | H2H | 7 |
| 1 | Rank | 5 |
| 23 | Age | 28 |
| 62-6 | 2024 W/L | 45-17 |
| 252-80 | Career W/L | 378-153 |
This rivalry has been incredibly exciting, and so should the quarter-final match in Shanghai. Sinner has had the upper hand more recently, and he will also be the favorite this time.
Medvedev has complained about the balls in Shanghai, specifically mentioning Sinner as a player who benefits from them. Still, the Italian's form has been far from optimal, and Medvedev will certainly have his chances in this match to take it at least into the third set.
Prediction: Jannik Sinner to win in three sets.