Daniil Medvedev makes Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Grand Slam prediction

Publish date: 2024-05-09
Carlos Alcaraz Jannik Sinner

Daniil Medvedev has predicted that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will have the same number of Grand Slam titles in 10 years ahead of the pair’s latest encounter in Indian Wells.

The world No 4 also reacted to his feisty quarter-final victory over Holger Rune and admitted he got “crazy and mad” after thinking the Dane did not apologise for hitting him with a shot.

The 2021 US Open winner defeated Rune 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells on Thursday to reach the last four of the ATP Masters 1000 event for the second straight year.

After the first point of the second set, Medvedev gestured to Rune by putting his fingers to his eyes after being hit by a passing shot and missing the 20-year-old’s apology.

Holger Rune hit a ball at Medvedev when Daniil was at the net.

Daniil leans on the net as if he’s waiting for an apology.

He puts his fingers to his eyes to tell Holger he’s watching him 😂

pic.twitter.com/VwlUdRWnpH

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 15, 2024

The 28-year-old Russian later seemed to mock Rune by pulling up his shorts while waiting to return, likely in reference to the tight shorts the 20-year-old Dane wears.

Medvedev then brought up the perceived lack of apology at the handshake, to which Rune responded: “There’s no reason to talk about it.”

READ MORE: Daniil Medvedev highlights trend causing ‘immense physical strain’ and ‘more injuries’

In his press conference, Medvedev said: “What happened on the court, it’s good that it already on the court it was, like, over.

“I didn’t see him say sorry, so for sure I get a ball in me, which is not a problem, this can happen. Usually sorry, sorry, whatever. I didn’t see it, but he did it. I didn’t know. I get crazy, I get mad.

“[Umpire] Carlos [Bernardes] tells me he said sorry, he tells me he said sorry. I say sorry that I didn’t see you say sorry. And all is done. I don’t think there is a continuation to this story.

“Oh, no, nothing against Holger. As I say, it’s just I didn’t see him say sorry after he went for me, you know. And I don’t think, again, I do this sometimes also.

“You know, you run for the balls, it’s not an easy ball because you go cross, you go line, it’s actually a good tactic to go at your opponent, but then you say sorry and you forget about it.

“Normally, you know — well, I’m not going to go to other situations. I think that when you say sorry usually this gets forgotten straightaway and stuff like this. I didn’t see it. So I got mad.

“But it was, it happened, and then when they both told me it happened, that’s when I was from my side, sorry for my reaction. Let’s move forward, yeah.”

The 20-time ATP titlist was also asked who he thought would win more majors between Alcaraz and Sinner, with the pair set to play for the eighth time in the Indian Wells semi-finals on Saturday.

“Oh, tough. Bold guess. At the moment you want to say Sinner, right? But Carlos is super strong also. You know what, let’s put it this way, Carlos and Sinner with same number of Slams in 10 years. Then at the end of their career, I don’t know (smiling),” he assessed.

Medvedev will take on world No 17 Tommy Paul in the last four in Indian Wells, after the 26-year-old American overcame world No 9 Casper Ruud in three sets in the quarter-finals.

READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz makes ‘best in world’ Jannik Sinner claim ahead of Indian Wells showdown

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