Really good observation by stating that Alcaraz played a lot of high percentage points and no over hitting as he did for most of the last year. With this game style he is a serious threat to djokovic on all surfaces. Pity we didn’t see Alcaraz in AO and Djokovic in the sunshine double. Will have to wait for Monte Carlo and Rafa will be the mix as well
Yes - very disappointing that the US is still insisting on the COVID stuff. With Novak out it feels like there isn't anyone who can really challenge Alcaraz in form. I had also thought that Rune might turn out to be a genuine rival to Alcaraz, but his results lately haven't been up to that standard.
Easy to forget this is only Runes second full year on tour and most players don't play their best until their early twenties. Rune and sinner are both still very young and could challenge alcaraz in their primes. Remember that Federer didn't really play his best until 22, and Djokovic was 23 in 2011
@@ikarugaxx3749 Nothing is guaranteed at his age, but the man won 2 grand slams last year and he played some great tennis. If he can stay healthy then he will be great again.
only good observation he did but i have to say its not big deal because it might just be tactical for example he knew medvedev dont like conditions and tiny bit injured he needed to play safe to score that win -when he has huge opponent he might choose to risk it
Alcaraz won the tournament without dropping a set, something that hasn't happened since Federer did it back in 2017! Super impressive run: Kokk, Griekspoor, Draper, FAA, SInner, and Meddy. Could be more of the same in Miami if he keeps this form.
I am surprised Daniil continued to take up such a deep position on court. This gave Carlos additional time which is lethal. The players who push Carlos hard take the ball early and hit hard. Carlos has the Rafa factor in being able to grind an opponent down or open them up if he is allowed. I'm not saying Daniil could have won with that switch, but I would have liked to see him try. Great analysis as usual Gill, you have earned you place as the goto guy for post match breakdown.
Medvedev is one dimensional . His ability to put balls back in play is what got him so far and he doesn't have a plan B. His game is unorthodox and except for his first serve, he does not hit his shots with a lot of power. He can defend for as long as it takes and defeat an opponent. Therefore he can't hurt opponents when he stands close to the base line. He did try to volley a little bit yesterday but he was not comfortable at all at the net. Medvedev has a poor record against Rafa and Roger and Carlos is a bit of both.
@@krishnaramachandran7722 Someone who achieved number 1 in the world is one dimensional? Not an entirely convincing point, maybe you don't like Daniil for some reason? Clearly Daniil is a unique player in many ways and his technique is odd and not very pretty. I don't know if you are a world class tennis player/coach, but to suggest that someone who has been ranked number 1 cannot adapt his game is not credible. I think that up until now, Daniil has believed that his strategy works well for him. Looking forward, we'll see if he can adapt his game to be more competitive against Carlos and the other emerging players who will no doubt learn from Carlos and enhance their games to add further dimensions to their repertoire. Let's not delude ourselves, Carlos is a truly exceptional player and if he stays healthy has the potential to equal the accomplishments of the big 3, that's not fanciful speculation, it is a realistic expectation because he has everything required to be the best. I love watching Andrey Rublev, but I might agree that he is rather one dimensional, which is why he's not progressed to win a masters 1000 or major and can only rarely beat another top 5 player. Even Andrey has started to come into the net recently, which is something he almost never did because I believe he's finally realising that he can't progress with immense power hitting alone. Don't underestimate how good the top 20 players (plus others like Kyrgios, maybe one of the most exceptional tennis players but currently ranked only 22) are. They have not got to that level in the world without being supremely talented, a level that most national level players can only dream of.
A fantastic feat to get this up so fast, and to be so lucid and fluid in your commentary. Kudos to you sir. A rare talent. Meddy won fans with his adorable comments on stage afterwards. In the comments dept, Charlie needs a few new phrases, but on the court, his performance was sublime!
Loved it! I know what you mean about Medvedev not being #1. His game is lacking in aggression which Carlitos has. Loved when you said how Carlos "played within himself" thats a great analogy/description of his growing maturity in tennis. So excited for the future of tennis.
Alcaraz is so talented, but his attitude really makes the difference. He is a humble warrior, never gets negative on the court, just always gives his best and lives with the results, similar to Rafa. That's why he has the mental edge over much older players.
There comes a point when everything clicks for a player. It took Federer until he was about 21-1/2 for that to happen--until he really became a supreme player, not just an excellent one. Took Djokovic even a bit longer. We might look back to this tourney and especially this match as the time when Alcaraz took that step.
Alcaraz has already won a slam and two Masters. His level was just as impressive at Madrid Open. The absurd thing about Alcaraz is that everything clicked at age 18 for him. He had a fairly impressive Miami win, and then a Madrid win where he beat Nadal, Djokovic, then destroyed Zverev in the final in an even more one-sided match than this one. Anyone who’s been watching Alcaraz carefully should’ve known he’s capable of this. Obviously there were question marks regarding his health, but the man is a freak on these courts.
I agree, Carlos has done incredible things, but still didn’t have that consistency, that confidence in beating any opponent that he faces. Because basing his game in incredible shots is a risky game. Against Medvedev we saw a new Alcaraz, tactician, wise, doing what was needed not what his heart demanded. I think this could be turning point for a solid champion.
Most importantly is that something NO ONE talks about and that is about being a good guy (on and off the court) possessing sporting VALUES and being humble enough to learn from your mistakes.
Hi Gill, I watch your videos on RUclips but have never commented. I just want you to know that I don’t watch you expecting your predictions to be right all the time. I watch you because you have a good feel for explaining tactics, plus you are direct, smart and a nice guy! So don’t get bent out of shape because some people give you a hard time because your predictions were wrong. As I recall you predicted Sinner over Alcaraz at Indian Wells, but everyone had questions about Alcatraz’s health. It does not matter! Just relax and be yourself. You are fine. Best wishes, Charles
As a Medvedev fan I'm just super proud of this run winning 19 matches in a row and 3 titles is spectacular and defeating the numerous top players along the way so losing to Carlos is no shame considering these conditions. Medvedev has accomplished achievements that many of his peers haven't with becoming world number 1 and winning a grand slam. Zverev, Stefanos, Rublev, Berretinni, FAA, Shapo, Sinner and others are still waiting while Daniil has already done it. Whether he can get back to number 1 remains to be seen but Meddy has proven that he will be a contender for the big titles in the foreseeable future and keep putting himself in these big match situations.
Ok so Zverev, Rublev, Tsitsipas and Berrettini, Tiafoe is that 3rd gen behind Fed Rafa and Novak. The original *NEXT GEN!* Those guys are already 25yrs and a bit older. Put Taylor Fritz in that group also. But Casper Ruud, Shapo, Sinner these guys are the *NEXT NEXT GEN!* ALL 23YRS and younger- Shapo and Ruud are a bit more experienced with Ruud playing in 2 finals already last yr. But that gen still have time to figure it out and contend with Alcaraz. Nadal & Novak's time is done by the end of this year; Next Gen is almost in its way out too with a small window. Only Thiem and Medvedev broke through with GS in the Next Fen group. Thiem is done too at 29, 30. Medvedev has a very small window, dont know if he can contend for majors again. But this Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner's time and generation!
@@leonardobraynen1524 Medvedev will be a contender for the next 5-6 years his body is physically fit and not injury prone. He won 19 matches in a row beating everyone possible except Carlos on the worst hard court conditions ever so just to even make the IW final was surprising itself
@@gabrielcruz6431 yeh Daniil only had that streak cuz no Nadal or Novak present. Cmon man! And about the longevity part, we'll see. I was excited for Daniil when he beat Novak and stopped his calendar yr in USO 2021. I thought this guy has arrived and will win many more slams to come. But here it is almost 2yrs later, he only has 1 Slam to show for it. And Carlos just arrived and already has a slam and seems to have surpassed Medvedev. Imho of course.
@@leonardobraynen1524 Short term memory problem? Medvedev defeated Novak on March 3, 2023 in the semi-final round of Dubai 6-4, 6-4. That was about 2 weeks ago. I watched it on Tennis Channel. Pretty sure it was the real Novak Djokovic that was present. (Medvedev has played in 4 slam finals. He's had to play against Nadal or Djokovic in each one. Alcaraz played against Casper Ruud. That's tennis.)
Alcaraz showed that he can use different tactics depending on the opponent. In the finals he showed that he was ready to reduce the amount of UFs if it was necessary for the win against this octopus-wall. For example, Sinner rarely changes his tactics and adapts to the opponent. Alcaraz is the most skillful player among his peers and the previous generation (Zverev, Tsitsipas, Med).
It's actually pretty scary to me how complete a game Alcaraz has at 19, his tennis IQ. This isn't to say there is nothing he can improve on though, of course there is. Man, that should be terrifying for the rest of the field. Definitely looking forward to him playing Djokovic, but hard to say whether it will be rivalry because we just don't know how long Novak will play/continue to be a top player free of injuries
Great analysis! And great picks in the tournament preview too. Almost a perfect score in three of the quarters (Paul missing to finish the win against Fritz deprived you of a better score) and seeing Fokina in the quarter was brilliant. Difficult to predict Alcaraz’s health though.
He has the IQ OF THE GAME AT 19, HE FIGURES OUT HOW TO PLAY PLAYERS, HE WAITED FOR THE RIGHT SHOT, HE TOOK IT, HE GOT IN MEDS HEAD, VERY GREAT PLAY, FED WAS MY FAVORITE, HE HAS A LOT OF WEAPONS LIKE FED. CARLOS IS MY ACTIVE FAVORITE PLAYER, GREAT TO WATCH.
When I read he loves chess and even plays it before matches, I knew here we had a thinker. His coach said last year he was then only at 60% potential....
Hooray for Carlos! It was such a great match for him! He didn't face a single break point and broke all 3 chances he got! I just love Carlos so much! My very favorite player! Just brilliant!
We are not far away from the Alcaraz dominating the tour and winning basically most of the major trophys! Players will be happy to win a couple of games per set. Very rarely players will win sets. This is just the beginning of the great Alcaraz. If he stays fit and healthy i would not be surprised at all if he ends up winning north of 30 Grand Slam Titels.
Daniil being too far receiving serves and hustling. Carlos capitalized by placing perfectly placed drop shots. Carlos and team really did their homework prior to finals!
Alcaraz has qualities of all of the big three. As cliche as that sounds, his flexibility, speed, and ability to stretch and contort his body to reach balls, is just like Novak. His physicality and the spin he plays with, is very much like Nadal. His ability to play with variety and get to the net/get his opponent to the net, is also just like Federer. Not saying he’ll win 20 plus slams, but I believe he’ll be considered an all time great when he is done playing.
Medvedev did not cope with Carlos, slow conditions and wind well at all. Carlos used a mix of Roger's tactics against Medvedev especially the slice serve on deuce court and drop volley and Rafa's slice, moving from side to side and sudden injection of pace in a rally.
Great analysis as always, Gill. However, one thing I saw differently was the basis for Medvedev’s uncharacteristically aggressive strategy. It goes without saying that Medvedev is perhaps the most tactically-minded player on tour, and probably the most adaptive given his relatively limited point-finishing options (of course players like Novak and Carlitos have greater absolute adaptive range due to their technical breadth). I think Medvedev did not come out with this gameplan due to feeling panicked or reactive; of course, he knew that Carlitos’ primary objective was to follow the now well-recognized blueprint of being ultra aggressive and closing the net whenever possible. However, Daniil also knew that his own path to victory ran solely through Carlitos’ inconsistency, to which he is especially prone when trying to pull off dazzling shots early in the point. So Medvedev’s question was: how can I maximize my likelihood of winning by eliciting overly-aggressive tennis from Carlos? The way to do this is by taking it to him early and ripping off a few great shots, thereby challenging him at his own game on the big stage, and goad him into overhitting - and if he can do this early, when nerves haven’t settled and the feel of the match is still forming, this would likely temper Carlitos’ confidence in his shots early on, and Daniil’s risky investment would have the best chance of paying off for the remainder of the match. It so happened that Daniil missed his few shots, and it ended up looking like a bad strategy due to poor execution - but if he pulled off those few aggressive shots early in the match, it would have been very interesting to see how Carlitos would have responded: whether he would have played the way we saw yesterday, or whether he would have fallen into Daniil’s trap by raising his level and trying to put on a show - pressing early in the rallies while trying to outdo Medvedev in spectacular shotmaking. After making a few big shots early, Medvedev likely was planning to settle back into his defensive mode, and survive/endure while his early investment pays off. Essentially, I don’t think it was because Daniil saw the variety of Carlitos’ weapons, panicked, and played reactive; he hasn’t done this against Djokovic - there’s no reason he would have done it against Carlitos unless he thought that it offered a distinct tactical advantage, and he knows that (in contrast to Novak) 19-yo Carlitos may respond by trying to step up to the challenge and show that he's the alpha shotmaker on the big stage. I think this early tactic by Daniil was not reactive but proactive: a chess move to bait Carlitos into his worst instincts, and thereby widen his only conceivable path to victory. It may well have looked much more reasonable had he simply executed those attempted winners in the first few games. Who knows? But I also am not sold that this would be a bad idea next time they play on a faster surface. Love both of these guys (shoutout to Rybakina as well!), and all credit to Carlitos for playing such an impeccable match. There's no joy in tennis like watching him play, even when he dominates. Looking forward to your coverage of Miami, man!
Great point about Carlos being more composed and calm. He really needs to do that more, when he is super hype he misses a lot or try crazy shots that are not necessary. But he is young so I guess he will improve that.
Didn't Gil tell us that his Carlos' coach, JCF, told him to be more composed and calm during the Sinner game. Clearly, Carlos is listening to good advice, the sign of a true champion.
Agree Gill this was the most brilliant version of Alcaraz we have seen so far. He is absolutely incredible the sky is the limit for him if he stays healthy. Meddy didn't really turn up and conditions didn't suit him so would be interested to see this match up again maybe at USO. Great speeches by both, Meddy is such a comedian and Alcaraz he is just has it all a true superstar!
Did not think it would be such a beat-down. Meddy did not play his best AND Carlitos just dominated from begining to end. Carlos' power looks very impressive and looked like a smart tactical execution as well. Thanx Gill. Best, Milan
Gill you talked about Alcaraz serve and volleying following his slice serve on the deuce side. There was an element to the oncourt coaching that I really enjoyed in this match and it was the first time I've felt this way: I speak just enough spanish to catch some of JCF's coaching advice. On set point in the first set, you could hear JCF say "entra cruzada" and then Alcaraz hit a slice serve and then followed it in. It was almost more exciting to know what the play was going to be ahead of time and see if he could execute on it. As an aside that nobody really talks about yet but I wonder how fair it is to compare Alcaraz to the big 3 if he's playing in the oncourt coaching era. It's clearly helping him when he's getting carried away and JCF tells him to calm down. Personally I'm excited about this change in the game.
It shouldn't be so surprising for you, Gill. You thought Daniil was gonna lose to ADF and Sinner (who was Alcaraz' toughest rival this tournament) was gonna win it. You were always counting on how difficult this court is for Meddy, and that fact hold true. Alcaraz was the nightmare matchup for Meddy; especially on a slow court. Meddy got to this final just because he didn't have to face Nole, Alcaraz or Sinner on his side. He was never comfortable, ADF had him but he shoot his own foot like he always does. This version of Meddy was beatable, so the Alcaraz victory is not that surprising.
@@GillGross Gotta hand it to the guy who came on your channel some weeks ago and said Alcaraz could carry the tour by himself. Fabulous performance. Lots of salty comments from Djokovic fans annoyed at the latter losing #1, and as a huge Djokovic fan myself I cannot celebrate Novak being denied 400 Weeks #1 again and again, but conspiracies are ridiculous. Assuming Alcaraz does stay injury free, he could well have a career similar to Serena who dominated an entire era by herself. The emergence of a hitherto unknown ATG or Sinner (Rune?) greatly stepping up are the only things standing in his way. This match also did in many ways remind me Medvedev isn't Djokovic. It had shades of the USO 2004 Final, when Federer completely demolished Hewitt's baseline/counterpunching game. What is needed is what Djokovic did to Federer in USO 2011, matching every forehand and backhand blow for blow. If this isn't done, much like Federer when up a set, Alcaraz will completely run away with the matches.
Gil, an undercooked aspect of Med's 19 match win streak this winter/spring is how few players he faced actually used the tactics that take advantage of his return position. Other than Djokovic, who was awful at the net in Dubai, Med played a lot of guys who stayed on the baseline and traded groundstrokes. Alcaraz was the first player in this run to successfully use the net game, drop shot combo against Med. For the record here are the players who have beaten Med using his return position against him: Djokovic - Paris Humbert - ATP Cup (totally overlooked match before last year's AO; Humbert kept pulling him wide) Nadal - AO Nadal - Acapulco Kyrgios - Toronto Tsitsipas - Cinci
The very first point they had a long rally and Alcaraz blasted it past him. Medvedev knew he was done after that and soon he was running to the net in desperation.
23:13 I feel like that's literally what Djokovic did too in the 2007-08 transition or maybe in 2010-11 I forget. But I remember seeing a bit of Djoker pre-big3 and I remember him trying to be an aggressive player compared to what he turned into
If Alcaraz carries on playing like this I can't see Joker or Nadal defeating him on Clay this year, even if both are in reasonably good physical shape. Reminded me of watching Federer in 2003 when it was clear he'd gone a level above everyone else on tour.
It's one thing for Alcaraz to beat Medvedev in a competitive match, but to do it in this manner against a top tier hardcourt player on a 19 match winning streak is a huge statement. Similar to Nadal, Alcaraz has the power + variety to give Medvedev problems. To make matters worse, Carlos is the ultimate athlete a la young Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
I went to Indian Wells this year such a beautiful setting. Many great steakhouses in Palm Springs also. Anyway saw some great players and to win a tournament like this is mind blowing.
That seemed very much like a statement win from Alcaraz. I don't know if Medvedev was compromised after the fall against Zverev. Utterly impressive, in any case. Monstrous win.
Alcaraz's potential going forward is scary. He's almost got all the tools that Nadal, Djokovic and Federer had, combined. He has the shot making and powerful forehand of Federer. He has the serve and volley and net play of Federer. He has the movement, speed and tenacity of Nadal. And he has the flexibility and sliding backhand of Djokovic. As his first serve improves, look out. He doesn't quite have the consistency and ability to simply not miss that prime Nadal and Djokovic had, but he's getting there, and I think he already has better offense than those guys.
People, can we please just sit back, relax, and enjoy a talented young player exploring his passion for tennis on courts in his own way. It’s not like we haven’t had enough mature talents to enjoy for the past decade(s) 😂
On the WTA side, almost 30 years of Serena Williams, was just to much for me. I prayed that some young player would consistently beat her, and that she would just retire.
It is obvious now, no one, not even Djoker, has the all around talent of Alcaraz. If he plays smart, disciplined tennis, his tools of the game will prevail.
Why dont more people play med like CA just did? If a guy is 190 ft behind the baseline it takes quick math to figure out a ball can easily bounce twice before he can run up to the net
@@jacintacesp Medvedev can't return from baseline, so he stays far, that's the only way, so often struggle to players like hubi Nick stef(recently) carlos etc
@@raghumanda2tanush496 but if he's unwilling to try moving up to the baseline, then I think it makes it hard for him to find a way to beat the best S&Vs in the game. As Gill pointed out - probably upside for Meddy isn't that great as he is sticking with the same game he has had for the last 4 years.
I was surprised to see that Alcaraz could serve well enough to serve and volley consistently against Medvedev. I knew he could volley well enough, but didn't expect the serve to do enough damage to come in behind consistently.
Maybe this is more of a question/topic for the "Three" panel, but why, why, why can't Djokovic -- and, for that matter, other elite/Top 5/Top 10 players -- roll Medvedev the way Alcaraz just did? You know Djokovic was watching with pencil and paper in hand. What can he learn from this 'How to Maul Meddy' masterclass Alcaraz just gave that he can apply to his game and use against Medvedev? Variety, variety, variety. Unexpected bursts of power, mixing up the pace/disturbing rhythm-player Medvedev's rhythm, lethal drop shots, keeping Medvedev guessing with serve-and-volley/net-rushing, patient play. Variety, variety, variety. "Never let 'em see you sweat." No, how 'bout "never let Daniil Medvedev know what's coming next"? Similarly, what might Djokovic need to add to his game -- and how much weight, if any, might he need to add to his frame -- to deal with serious threat Alcaraz?
Alcaraz was superior. Ever since Medvedev let Tiafoe save 6 Match Points the other day and extend the game by 30 minutes, I knew Meddy was running out of gas and probably gonna lose to a much more "in-shape" Alcaraz.
@@jacobschmidt2709 Well you commented lot of bullshit saying Daniel going to lose to tiafoe or someone only thing you predicted was right was carlos going to win.
Good Analysis.....But I was surprised at your original pick that Alcaraz wud bow out in Semis. Given that this is a quicksand of a Hardcourt, Alcaraz was always gonna be the guy to beat. As invincible as he looks now, it won't be the same on faster surfaces though, and there are a few guys who can really take him out. Miami isn't a given either. But the Clay swing is his to lose. Only unfortunate thing wud be for any potential GOAT youngster to have an unchallenged free reign. Rivalries are what are good for the sport. And right now Rafa and Novak are over the hill, despite their results, it's their genius which is winning them matches than Peak level of play. None of the other youngsters seem as consistent as Carlos. Hopefully a couple of guys step it up soon.
Agreed. As much as I enjoy watching Carlos win, sooner or later I would get bored seeing him win. This match, beating the best player at this moment, came as a surprise to me, which made the win all the more sweet. Same could be said for Rybakina.
I noticed the contrast between their boxes; Ferreira non-stop encouragement & coaching (even more annoying than Apistolos) while Cervera just sat there not moving - Meddy's whole box looked frozen. Have to wonder why.
Interesting how the psychology beared down on this match and appreciate the point about sinner and Medvedev and playing their game. I think that is where Novak is so good. He is able to work out how to play each opponent.
In about two weeks there could be another final between these two in Miami. I am very curious to see if Carlos will be able to beat Medvedev again in the same way he did today. Can't wait to what happens.
Carlos is the new bully (i mean dominant player). Waiting for his encounters with Novak and a fully fit Nadal in the coming claycourt season, especially the French Open.
Congrats to all Alcaraz fans 🎉 but this hard court was very slow and windy that is all influence Danil, Carlos on other hand love slow court and heavy balls i am not sure that result will be equal on faster court.
It's one thing for Alcaraz to beat Medvedev in a competitive match, but to do it in this manner against a top tier hardcourt player on a 19 match winning streak is a huge statement. Similar to Nadal, Alcaraz has the power + variety to give Medvedev problems. To make matters worse, Carlos is the ultimate athlete a la young Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
7:25 No shit, a 19 year old kid prodigy finally finds some consistency with his incredibly vast tool set. Watch him get even more consistent when reaches his peak at 20, 21 years of age...
Let's accept guys.....Carlitos is bringing a new play concept......shorten the points when everyone is killing others with useless rallies...and killing the beauty of tennis too. He is going for the big kill...he is preserving himself for longevity, for big ticket titles. With Juan Carlos at his back.....he's big time changing the tennis.
Putting everything into context... Sinner did pretty well against Carlos! Apart from his skills & tennis IQ & everything else... Carlos has self-belief, which really makes the difference.
I think Sinner will be his greatest rival. Jannick has an amazing mentallity, imho the closest to Nadal and Djokovic in terms of strenght and resilience.
Meddy has a disdainful look when he shook hands .. almost as if he is unable to accept that Alcaraz is this good .. maybe meddy expected that he could win easy but this demolition job def has affected him
It seems we're headed toward a Federer-like domination era post-Big 3, with Alcaraz winning almost everything. Unless Rune can get like Djokovic 2011 and come out firing from nowhere ofc, but I don't think that'll happen, unfortunately. RIP Golden Era 😢
I expected you to note the wind factor which seems to have frustrated Daniil just as much as the slow court he was fuming over. It seemed to me that he had given up entirely after the 1st game he dropped. Like he just wanted to get it over with asap. Another factor was Daniil's return position, impossible to win standing that far if your opponent can play at net and drop shot.
@@meruendano indeed that's true. But it usually affects players differently based on style. Alcaraz's offensive game cuts through the wind more easily so he's less bothered. Medvedev's precision and consistency based defensive game is more impacted due to his strokes. Not an excuse, but definitely an important factor. As important as surface type or speed, some players have more adaptive games some favor more specific conditions.
@@meruendano It's a factor not an excuse. Just like flat hitters do better on grass and topspin players do better on clay. The conditions impact the strokes, and wind is part of the conditions. Offensive games adapt easier to wind than counterpunchers that rely on consistency. If Roger is better than Rafa on grass for example, the court is a factor, not an excuse for Rafa. Reverse argument on clay. Humidity, heat, wind, indoor vs outdoor, surfaces.. they impact players differently, so pointing them out is not an excuse.
"Medvedev had won 19 matches in 31 days across three continents, four countries and 12 time zones." I noticed how much his hand was shaking when he signed the camera after the match with Tiafoe. He must have been exhausted by Sunday night, and then to have to face Carlos across the net. Carlos, of course, played great. But maybe that's why Meddy changed his playing style? He knew he couldn't physically play in his usual long rallies.
@@jacobschmidt2709 Teenage Nadal had like double the titles Alcaraz has. He also won 2 slams and was beating peak Federer. You’re crazy if you actually believe that
I kinda prefer Alcaraz when he is in his boom or bust mode. I'm sure it'd be worst for his career but more fun to watch and would make games more unpredictable. If somebody has the talent to get away with this syle of play and still win somewhat consistently it's him.
I kinda felt like Medvedev was just trying stuff out. I kinda felt that way too for the tail end of the tiafoe second set. I feel like Medvedev doesn't want to run and dig deep physically except at grand slams now. He's kinda at that point where he's kinda done it all for a regular career and is now trying get in on the slam collection game.
Medvedev did not play well, of course, and maybe fatigue came into play. But at the same time, these mistakes are him doing stuff he’s not comfortable doing. He has clear limitations, especially on this surface where he has historically struggled. It was a gutsy effort just to make the final after a shaky performance against Tiafoe, an escape against Zverev and a tight match with Ivashka. When we look at those errors in the first game of the second set, they’re all areas where Medvedev struggles. Backhand volley error? Well, he’s not comfortable with volleying, especially when his opponent is as quick as Alcaraz is so he has to do a lot with it. Forehand unforced from an attacking position? Again, textbook example of a player not being able to hit through the opponent on a slow surface. Even the double fault could have had something to do with how much Alcaraz attacked Medvedev’s second serve (like those two backhand returns in the 2-0 game of the second set). Medvedev struggled because he was forced to do things he isn’t good at doing. We all know Medvedev has extreme weaknesses paired with extreme strengths. Alcaraz and this surface bring out all of the weaknesses in his game. I mean it’s not a coincidence that players have their “worst” matches when they’re in uncomfortable conditions. Think about Djokovic being unable to hit through Nadal on clay, leading to him often spraying unforced errors. Medvedev maybe could’ve turned in a better defensive performance here and grinded with Alcaraz, but this was not a winnable match in my opinion. Alcaraz at his best on this slow of a surface should be very comfortable against Medvedev.
I think Medvedev lost steam. After 19 matches and three titles, he just was no longer fresh and just did not have the stamina anymore. the Final was just one match too far... Alcaraz made him run corner to corner; and the conditions did not favor Medvedev at all. Medvedev had to measure his shots and he was not as explosive as he could be. Alcaraz of course played the most intelligent match of his career. He was patient. And Gill is correct in this. But he also did not forego the explosive shots when he got the opportunity. He let rip... In any case, now it is Alcaraz who has to worry about maintaining his form as he moves to Miami. He and Medvedev are in the same boat. But he has played so much less than Medvedev. Here's hoping he can continue his run in Miami and win the Sunshine Double...
I only saw highlights, but Medvedev looked very passive and somewhat flat. Alcaraz clearly played brilliantly. He seemed to have developed great anti Medvedev tactics, some that Nick Kyrgios used.
Tbf, no excuses but Medvedev had 1 tire available. He still had ankle issues that Alcaraz exploited both early and late. Daniil got to a few but could not sustain moving forward, backward and side to side. Once Alcaraz served out wide to the forehand, he was attacking the net with volleys for winners- EASY! This would have been a more competitve match with Tiafoe and even Djokovic.
Medvedev was out off gas ⛽️. That’s why he rushed.This match gave Novak the key 🔑 to bit Medvedev. Good 👍 for Carlitos. Enjoy the victory . The time will tell who is the #1
I don't like the court positioning of Medvedev when it comes to the return of serve. Particularly in this match against Alcaraz I felt it really hurt him. Alcaraz used it to his advantage with heavy sliced serves on the deuce court. He also was able to serve & volley effectively against Medvedev's far back return position. The drop shots Alcaraz employed also were effectively used against Medvedev because of his return position. On the other side Carlos stood in closer to the baseline where he could hit outright winners on the return or at the very least rob Medevev of time. Medvedev needs to develop more variety in his game if he hopes to be able to fight for the #1 ranking in the future. Alcaraz's speed & patience seemed to frustrate Medvedvev right from the outset of this match, forcing Medvedev to feel he had to take more risks than he normally does.
![Wolfram Physics Project: Working Session Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2020 [Finding Black Hole Structures]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SbDzqlOLIZA/mqdefault.jpg)
Really good observation by stating that Alcaraz played a lot of high percentage points and no over hitting as he did for most of the last year. With this game style he is a serious threat to djokovic on all surfaces. Pity we didn’t see Alcaraz in AO and Djokovic in the sunshine double. Will have to wait for Monte Carlo and Rafa will be the mix as well
Yes - very disappointing that the US is still insisting on the COVID stuff. With Novak out it feels like there isn't anyone who can really challenge Alcaraz in form. I had also thought that Rune might turn out to be a genuine rival to Alcaraz, but his results lately haven't been up to that standard.
Easy to forget this is only Runes second full year on tour and most players don't play their best until their early twenties. Rune and sinner are both still very young and could challenge alcaraz in their primes. Remember that Federer didn't really play his best until 22, and Djokovic was 23 in 2011
I am unsure Rafa can really come back to be a top player, his real self.
@@ikarugaxx3749 Nothing is guaranteed at his age, but the man won 2 grand slams last year and he played some great tennis. If he can stay healthy then he will be great again.
only good observation he did but i have to say its not big deal because it might just be tactical for example he knew medvedev dont like conditions and tiny bit injured he needed to play safe to score that win -when he has huge opponent he might choose to risk it
Alcaraz won the tournament without dropping a set, something that hasn't happened since Federer did it back in 2017! Super impressive run: Kokk, Griekspoor, Draper, FAA, SInner, and Meddy. Could be more of the same in Miami if he keeps this form.
Nadal did that in 2020 roland garros.
@@ajinkyathorat7502 he's talking about IW
IW
@@ajinkyathorat7502 Reading is hard
Didn’t Alcaraz lose a set in the very first round ?
I am surprised Daniil continued to take up such a deep position on court. This gave Carlos additional time which is lethal. The players who push Carlos hard take the ball early and hit hard. Carlos has the Rafa factor in being able to grind an opponent down or open them up if he is allowed. I'm not saying Daniil could have won with that switch, but I would have liked to see him try.
Great analysis as usual Gill, you have earned you place as the goto guy for post match breakdown.
Medvedev is one dimensional . His ability to put balls back in play is what got him so far and he doesn't have a plan B. His game is unorthodox and except for his first serve, he does not hit his shots with a lot of power. He can defend for as long as it takes and defeat an opponent. Therefore he can't hurt opponents when he stands close to the base line. He did try to volley a little bit yesterday but he was not comfortable at all at the net. Medvedev has a poor record against Rafa and Roger and Carlos is a bit of both.
@@krishnaramachandran7722 Someone who achieved number 1 in the world is one dimensional? Not an entirely convincing point, maybe you don't like Daniil for some reason?
Clearly Daniil is a unique player in many ways and his technique is odd and not very pretty. I don't know if you are a world class tennis player/coach, but to suggest that someone who has been ranked number 1 cannot adapt his game is not credible. I think that up until now, Daniil has believed that his strategy works well for him. Looking forward, we'll see if he can adapt his game to be more competitive against Carlos and the other emerging players who will no doubt learn from Carlos and enhance their games to add further dimensions to their repertoire.
Let's not delude ourselves, Carlos is a truly exceptional player and if he stays healthy has the potential to equal the accomplishments of the big 3, that's not fanciful speculation, it is a realistic expectation because he has everything required to be the best.
I love watching Andrey Rublev, but I might agree that he is rather one dimensional, which is why he's not progressed to win a masters 1000 or major and can only rarely beat another top 5 player. Even Andrey has started to come into the net recently, which is something he almost never did because I believe he's finally realising that he can't progress with immense power hitting alone.
Don't underestimate how good the top 20 players (plus others like Kyrgios, maybe one of the most exceptional tennis players but currently ranked only 22) are. They have not got to that level in the world without being supremely talented, a level that most national level players can only dream of.
A fantastic feat to get this up so fast, and to be so lucid and fluid in your commentary. Kudos to you sir. A rare talent. Meddy won fans with his adorable comments on stage afterwards. In the comments dept, Charlie needs a few new phrases, but on the court, his performance was sublime!
Loved it! I know what you mean about Medvedev not being #1. His game is lacking in aggression which Carlitos has. Loved when you said how Carlos "played within himself" thats a great analogy/description of his growing maturity in tennis. So excited for the future of tennis.
Alcaraz is so talented, but his attitude really makes the difference. He is a humble warrior, never gets negative on the court, just always gives his best and lives with the results, similar to Rafa. That's why he has the mental edge over much older players.
There comes a point when everything clicks for a player. It took Federer until he was about 21-1/2 for that to happen--until he really became a supreme player, not just an excellent one. Took Djokovic even a bit longer. We might look back to this tourney and especially this match as the time when Alcaraz took that step.
Alcaraz has already won a slam and two Masters. His level was just as impressive at Madrid Open. The absurd thing about Alcaraz is that everything clicked at age 18 for him. He had a fairly impressive Miami win, and then a Madrid win where he beat Nadal, Djokovic, then destroyed Zverev in the final in an even more one-sided match than this one.
Anyone who’s been watching Alcaraz carefully should’ve known he’s capable of this. Obviously there were question marks regarding his health, but the man is a freak on these courts.
I agree, Carlos has done incredible things, but still didn’t have that consistency, that confidence in beating any opponent that he faces. Because basing his game in incredible shots is a risky game. Against Medvedev we saw a new Alcaraz, tactician, wise, doing what was needed not what his heart demanded. I think this could be turning point for a solid champion.
Most importantly is that something NO ONE talks about and that is about being a good guy (on and off the court) possessing sporting VALUES and being humble enough to learn from your mistakes.
Hi Gill, I watch your videos on RUclips but have never commented. I just want you to know that I don’t watch you expecting your predictions to be right all the time. I watch you because you have a good feel for explaining tactics, plus you are direct, smart and a nice guy! So don’t get bent out of shape because some people give you a hard time because your predictions were wrong. As I recall you predicted Sinner over Alcaraz at Indian Wells, but everyone had questions about Alcatraz’s health. It does not matter! Just relax and be yourself. You are fine.
Best wishes,
Charles
As a Medvedev fan I'm just super proud of this run winning 19 matches in a row and 3 titles is spectacular and defeating the numerous top players along the way so losing to Carlos is no shame considering these conditions. Medvedev has accomplished achievements that many of his peers haven't with becoming world number 1 and winning a grand slam. Zverev, Stefanos, Rublev, Berretinni, FAA, Shapo, Sinner and others are still waiting while Daniil has already done it. Whether he can get back to number 1 remains to be seen but Meddy has proven that he will be a contender for the big titles in the foreseeable future and keep putting himself in these big match situations.
Ok so Zverev, Rublev, Tsitsipas and Berrettini, Tiafoe is that 3rd gen behind Fed Rafa and Novak. The original *NEXT GEN!* Those guys are already 25yrs and a bit older. Put Taylor Fritz in that group also. But Casper Ruud, Shapo, Sinner these guys are the *NEXT NEXT GEN!*
ALL 23YRS and younger- Shapo and Ruud are a bit more experienced with Ruud playing in 2 finals already last yr. But that gen still have time to figure it out and contend with Alcaraz. Nadal & Novak's time is done by the end of this year; Next Gen is almost in its way out too with a small window. Only Thiem and Medvedev broke through with GS in the Next Fen group. Thiem is done too at 29, 30. Medvedev has a very small window, dont know if he can contend for majors again.
But this Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner's time and generation!
Oh yeh FAA is a young gun too as the Next Next Gen- younger than 23 but more in set with Ruud's age bracket and maturity. He also has time to contend.
@@leonardobraynen1524 Medvedev will be a contender for the next 5-6 years his body is physically fit and not injury prone. He won 19 matches in a row beating everyone possible except Carlos on the worst hard court conditions ever so just to even make the IW final was surprising itself
@@gabrielcruz6431 yeh Daniil only had that streak cuz no Nadal or Novak present. Cmon man!
And about the longevity part, we'll see. I was excited for Daniil when he beat Novak and stopped his calendar yr in USO 2021. I thought this guy has arrived and will win many more slams to come. But here it is almost 2yrs later, he only has 1 Slam to show for it.
And Carlos just arrived and already has a slam and seems to have surpassed Medvedev.
Imho of course.
@@leonardobraynen1524 Short term memory problem? Medvedev defeated Novak on March 3, 2023 in the semi-final round of Dubai 6-4, 6-4. That was about 2 weeks ago. I watched it on Tennis Channel. Pretty sure it was the real Novak Djokovic that was present. (Medvedev has played in 4 slam finals. He's had to play against Nadal or Djokovic in each one. Alcaraz played against Casper Ruud. That's tennis.)
Alcaraz showed that he can use different tactics depending on the opponent. In the finals he showed that he was ready to reduce the amount of UFs if it was necessary for the win against this octopus-wall.
For example, Sinner rarely changes his tactics and adapts to the opponent. Alcaraz is the most skillful player among his peers and the previous generation (Zverev, Tsitsipas, Med).
Carlos is uniquely skilled in both the front and back court. As his volleys progress, he will be a real force on grass too!
I always enjoy drinking my coffee, smoking my cigar and listening to your match analysis. 👍🙏
Lol me too.. It's so relaxing..No tennis match is completed without Gill's analysis!
@@xcchrist8161 the longest, the better 😂😂👍
Meddy got put in the Alcatraz jail cell today, utter and total dominance.
Gill, you've really set yourself apart from most other tennis analysts/RUclipsrs. Hope to see you at 25K subs before too long 👍
It's actually pretty scary to me how complete a game Alcaraz has at 19, his tennis IQ. This isn't to say there is nothing he can improve on though, of course there is. Man, that should be terrifying for the rest of the field. Definitely looking forward to him playing Djokovic, but hard to say whether it will be rivalry because we just don't know how long Novak will play/continue to be a top player free of injuries
He can still improve the serve if he gets more free points plus say 90% winning on it he’s gonna be very tough to beat
Definitely - and sadly effectively 2 years will have been compromised by the vaccine ban.
He is at 60% of his potential, says his coach. The tour should be absolutely frightened
Great analysis! And great picks in the tournament preview too. Almost a perfect score in three of the quarters (Paul missing to finish the win against Fritz deprived you of a better score) and seeing Fokina in the quarter was brilliant. Difficult to predict Alcaraz’s health though.
He has the IQ OF THE GAME AT 19, HE FIGURES OUT HOW TO PLAY PLAYERS, HE WAITED FOR THE RIGHT SHOT, HE TOOK IT, HE GOT IN MEDS HEAD, VERY GREAT PLAY, FED WAS MY FAVORITE, HE HAS A LOT OF WEAPONS LIKE FED. CARLOS IS MY ACTIVE FAVORITE PLAYER, GREAT TO WATCH.
When I read he loves chess and even plays it before matches, I knew here we had a thinker. His coach said last year he was then only at 60% potential....
@@benitadewet9344 does Alcaraz plays chess 😮
@@jonasbertilbellander yep
60% in tennis game...
He, his coach, and/or his team figure out how to play players.
Fantastic analysis on all aspects, starting with the very first game, overall context, changes in both player's approaches, just loved it!
Hooray for Carlos! It was such a great match for him! He didn't face a single break point and broke all 3 chances he got!
I just love Carlos so much! My very favorite player! Just brilliant!
We are not far away from the Alcaraz dominating the tour and winning basically most of the major trophys! Players will be happy to win a couple of games per set. Very rarely players will win sets. This is just the beginning of the great Alcaraz.
If he stays fit and healthy i would not be surprised at all if he ends up winning north of 30 Grand Slam Titels.
Daniil being too far receiving serves and hustling. Carlos capitalized by placing perfectly placed drop shots. Carlos and team really did their homework prior to finals!
Great analysis Gill fantastic tournament you are the best happy for Carlos 👏👏👏🇬🇧
Alcaraz has qualities of all of the big three. As cliche as that sounds, his flexibility, speed, and ability to stretch and contort his body to reach balls, is just like Novak. His physicality and the spin he plays with, is very much like Nadal. His ability to play with variety and get to the net/get his opponent to the net, is also just like Federer. Not saying he’ll win 20 plus slams, but I believe he’ll be considered an all time great when he is done playing.
He even prances around the court like Federer.
@@hjander Federer never asked the crowd for applause
This was a great great great recap!!!
Gill keep up the amazing work.
When will be the next mailbag?
Yet another detailed well made and considered analysis. I love watching these videos as much as I love watching the matches themselves! Well done
Medvedev did not cope with Carlos, slow conditions and wind well at all. Carlos used a mix of Roger's tactics against Medvedev especially the slice serve on deuce court and drop volley and Rafa's slice, moving from side to side and sudden injection of pace in a rally.
Yup
Great analysis as always, Gill. However, one thing I saw differently was the basis for Medvedev’s uncharacteristically aggressive strategy. It goes without saying that Medvedev is perhaps the most tactically-minded player on tour, and probably the most adaptive given his relatively limited point-finishing options (of course players like Novak and Carlitos have greater absolute adaptive range due to their technical breadth). I think Medvedev did not come out with this gameplan due to feeling panicked or reactive; of course, he knew that Carlitos’ primary objective was to follow the now well-recognized blueprint of being ultra aggressive and closing the net whenever possible. However, Daniil also knew that his own path to victory ran solely through Carlitos’ inconsistency, to which he is especially prone when trying to pull off dazzling shots early in the point. So Medvedev’s question was: how can I maximize my likelihood of winning by eliciting overly-aggressive tennis from Carlos? The way to do this is by taking it to him early and ripping off a few great shots, thereby challenging him at his own game on the big stage, and goad him into overhitting - and if he can do this early, when nerves haven’t settled and the feel of the match is still forming, this would likely temper Carlitos’ confidence in his shots early on, and Daniil’s risky investment would have the best chance of paying off for the remainder of the match. It so happened that Daniil missed his few shots, and it ended up looking like a bad strategy due to poor execution - but if he pulled off those few aggressive shots early in the match, it would have been very interesting to see how Carlitos would have responded: whether he would have played the way we saw yesterday, or whether he would have fallen into Daniil’s trap by raising his level and trying to put on a show - pressing early in the rallies while trying to outdo Medvedev in spectacular shotmaking. After making a few big shots early, Medvedev likely was planning to settle back into his defensive mode, and survive/endure while his early investment pays off. Essentially, I don’t think it was because Daniil saw the variety of Carlitos’ weapons, panicked, and played reactive; he hasn’t done this against Djokovic - there’s no reason he would have done it against Carlitos unless he thought that it offered a distinct tactical advantage, and he knows that (in contrast to Novak) 19-yo Carlitos may respond by trying to step up to the challenge and show that he's the alpha shotmaker on the big stage. I think this early tactic by Daniil was not reactive but proactive: a chess move to bait Carlitos into his worst instincts, and thereby widen his only conceivable path to victory. It may well have looked much more reasonable had he simply executed those attempted winners in the first few games. Who knows? But I also am not sold that this would be a bad idea next time they play on a faster surface.
Love both of these guys (shoutout to Rybakina as well!), and all credit to Carlitos for playing such an impeccable match. There's no joy in tennis like watching him play, even when he dominates.
Looking forward to your coverage of Miami, man!
Always love your commentary and analysis, Gil
Great point about Carlos being more composed and calm. He really needs to do that more, when he is super hype he misses a lot or try crazy shots that are not necessary. But he is young so I guess he will improve that.
Didn't Gil tell us that his Carlos' coach, JCF, told him to be more composed and calm during the Sinner game. Clearly, Carlos is listening to good advice, the sign of a true champion.
This one came out fast! Maybe not too much to cover given in how comprehensive of a beating it was
'How to Maul Medvedev: A Masterclass' given by Carlos Alcaraz
Agree Gill this was the most brilliant version of Alcaraz we have seen so far. He is absolutely incredible the sky is the limit for him if he stays healthy. Meddy didn't really turn up and conditions didn't suit him so would be interested to see this match up again maybe at USO. Great speeches by both, Meddy is such a comedian and Alcaraz he is just has it all a true superstar!
Did not think it would be such a beat-down. Meddy did not play his best AND Carlitos just dominated from begining to end. Carlos' power looks very impressive and looked like a smart tactical execution as well. Thanx Gill. Best, Milan
Gill you talked about Alcaraz serve and volleying following his slice serve on the deuce side. There was an element to the oncourt coaching that I really enjoyed in this match and it was the first time I've felt this way: I speak just enough spanish to catch some of JCF's coaching advice. On set point in the first set, you could hear JCF say "entra cruzada" and then Alcaraz hit a slice serve and then followed it in. It was almost more exciting to know what the play was going to be ahead of time and see if he could execute on it.
As an aside that nobody really talks about yet but I wonder how fair it is to compare Alcaraz to the big 3 if he's playing in the oncourt coaching era. It's clearly helping him when he's getting carried away and JCF tells him to calm down. Personally I'm excited about this change in the game.
He's an author, too! 'How to Dismantle Daniil Medvedev in Two Easy Sets' by Carlos Alcaraz
It shouldn't be so surprising for you, Gill. You thought Daniil was gonna lose to ADF and Sinner (who was Alcaraz' toughest rival this tournament) was gonna win it. You were always counting on how difficult this court is for Meddy, and that fact hold true. Alcaraz was the nightmare matchup for Meddy; especially on a slow court. Meddy got to this final just because he didn't have to face Nole, Alcaraz or Sinner on his side. He was never comfortable, ADF had him but he shoot his own foot like he always does. This version of Meddy was beatable, so the Alcaraz victory is not that surprising.
Exactly
The surprising part would be the margin of victory, not the victory itself.
@@GillGross Gotta hand it to the guy who came on your channel some weeks ago and said Alcaraz could carry the tour by himself. Fabulous performance. Lots of salty comments from Djokovic fans annoyed at the latter losing #1, and as a huge Djokovic fan myself I cannot celebrate Novak being denied 400 Weeks #1 again and again, but conspiracies are ridiculous. Assuming Alcaraz does stay injury free, he could well have a career similar to Serena who dominated an entire era by herself. The emergence of a hitherto unknown ATG or Sinner (Rune?) greatly stepping up are the only things standing in his way. This match also did in many ways remind me Medvedev isn't Djokovic. It had shades of the USO 2004 Final, when Federer completely demolished Hewitt's baseline/counterpunching game. What is needed is what Djokovic did to Federer in USO 2011, matching every forehand and backhand blow for blow. If this isn't done, much like Federer when up a set, Alcaraz will completely run away with the matches.
To summarise: “The better player, on the day, won.”
@@richietaylor9870 That holds for every other day too.
Gil, an undercooked aspect of Med's 19 match win streak this winter/spring is how few players he faced actually used the tactics that take advantage of his return position. Other than Djokovic, who was awful at the net in Dubai, Med played a lot of guys who stayed on the baseline and traded groundstrokes. Alcaraz was the first player in this run to successfully use the net game, drop shot combo against Med.
For the record here are the players who have beaten Med using his return position against him:
Djokovic - Paris
Humbert - ATP Cup (totally overlooked match before last year's AO; Humbert kept pulling him wide)
Nadal - AO
Nadal - Acapulco
Kyrgios - Toronto
Tsitsipas - Cinci
Brilliant analysis, loved listening to this.
Ohgod this seasons gonna be good
The very first point they had a long rally and Alcaraz blasted it past him.
Medvedev knew he was done after that and soon he was running to the net in desperation.
23:13 I feel like that's literally what Djokovic did too in the 2007-08 transition or maybe in 2010-11 I forget. But I remember seeing a bit of Djoker pre-big3 and I remember him trying to be an aggressive player compared to what he turned into
If Alcaraz carries on playing like this I can't see Joker or Nadal defeating him on Clay this year, even if both are in reasonably good physical shape. Reminded me of watching Federer in 2003 when it was clear he'd gone a level above everyone else on tour.
Carlos struggles in slow Courts, he might be at them at madrid but will lose in mc Barcelona rg
Nadal is still the huge favourite at Roland Garros until someone defeats him there
@@mickaellandry9726 This morning Joker is 7/4, Carlos 11/5, Nadal 7/2. RG not for some time of course.
I agree. Alcaraz will beat Nadal at RG this year.
@@skabbaraju1 Don't put any money on it, at RG Nadal is a different 'animal'.
It's one thing for Alcaraz to beat Medvedev in a competitive match, but to do it in this manner against a top tier hardcourt player on a 19 match winning streak is a huge statement. Similar to Nadal, Alcaraz has the power + variety to give Medvedev problems. To make matters worse, Carlos is the ultimate athlete a la young Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
Excellent analysis as usual. Great vocabulary and eloquence!
Clay season is gonna be very interesting
I went to Indian Wells this year such a beautiful setting. Many great steakhouses in Palm Springs also. Anyway saw some great players and to win a tournament like this is mind blowing.
Carlos serving was really good this tournament only drop serve 2 times in 6 matches
That seemed very much like a statement win from Alcaraz. I don't know if Medvedev was compromised after the fall against Zverev. Utterly impressive, in any case. Monstrous win.
Alcaraz's potential going forward is scary. He's almost got all the tools that Nadal, Djokovic and Federer had, combined. He has the shot making and powerful forehand of Federer. He has the serve and volley and net play of Federer. He has the movement, speed and tenacity of Nadal. And he has the flexibility and sliding backhand of Djokovic. As his first serve improves, look out. He doesn't quite have the consistency and ability to simply not miss that prime Nadal and Djokovic had, but he's getting there, and I think he already has better offense than those guys.
Amazing analysis Gill:)!
Alcatraz English is improving along with his game.
People, can we please just sit back, relax, and enjoy a talented young player exploring his passion for tennis on courts in his own way. It’s not like we haven’t had enough mature talents to enjoy for the past decade(s) 😂
On the WTA side, almost 30 years of Serena Williams, was just to much for me. I prayed that some young player would consistently beat her, and that she would just retire.
May be ending up the most complete player ever in tennis, no doubt so far never seen at 19yo
It is obvious now, no one, not even Djoker, has the all around talent of Alcaraz. If he plays smart, disciplined tennis, his tools of the game will prevail.
Alcaraz is getting into a lot of players mindsets.
Why dont more people play med like CA just did? If a guy is 190 ft behind the baseline it takes quick math to figure out a ball can easily bounce twice before he can run up to the net
becuase they can't execute haha
Hubi Nick stef can play like that
I am surprised that Medvedev stayed that far back knowing that Carlitos drop shots and that there was a gale blowing!
@@jacintacesp Medvedev can't return from baseline, so he stays far, that's the only way, so often struggle to players like hubi Nick stef(recently) carlos etc
@@raghumanda2tanush496 but if he's unwilling to try moving up to the baseline, then I think it makes it hard for him to find a way to beat the best S&Vs in the game. As Gill pointed out - probably upside for Meddy isn't that great as he is sticking with the same game he has had for the last 4 years.
I was surprised to see that Alcaraz could serve well enough to serve and volley consistently against Medvedev. I knew he could volley well enough, but didn't expect the serve to do enough damage to come in behind consistently.
Tks!
Maybe this is more of a question/topic for the "Three" panel, but why, why, why can't Djokovic -- and, for that matter, other elite/Top 5/Top 10 players -- roll Medvedev the way Alcaraz just did? You know Djokovic was watching with pencil and paper in hand. What can he learn from this 'How to Maul Meddy' masterclass Alcaraz just gave that he can apply to his game and use against Medvedev? Variety, variety, variety. Unexpected bursts of power, mixing up the pace/disturbing rhythm-player Medvedev's rhythm, lethal drop shots, keeping Medvedev guessing with serve-and-volley/net-rushing, patient play. Variety, variety, variety. "Never let 'em see you sweat." No, how 'bout "never let Daniil Medvedev know what's coming next"?
Similarly, what might Djokovic need to add to his game -- and how much weight, if any, might he need to add to his frame -- to deal with serious threat Alcaraz?
Gill without a doubt gives the best and most insightful match analysises of anyone I know
Alcaraz was superior. Ever since Medvedev let Tiafoe save 6 Match Points the other day and extend the game by 30 minutes, I knew Meddy was running out of gas and probably gonna lose to a much more "in-shape" Alcaraz.
Meddy said he was fine physically he just did not show up .. anyways good Carlos won ! Exciting player
It didn't matter what version of Medvedev showed up. Alcaraz was winning this either way. It still was a heck of a run by Medvedev tho.
@@jacobschmidt2709
Well you commented lot of bullshit saying Daniel going to lose to tiafoe or someone only thing you predicted was right was carlos going to win.
💯 🎉One new set up Alca does is his BH slice in the rallys. Ferrero knows! 🎉🎉
Good Analysis.....But I was surprised at your original pick that Alcaraz wud bow out in Semis. Given that this is a quicksand of a Hardcourt, Alcaraz was always gonna be the guy to beat.
As invincible as he looks now, it won't be the same on faster surfaces though, and there are a few guys who can really take him out. Miami isn't a given either. But the Clay swing is his to lose. Only unfortunate thing wud be for any potential GOAT youngster to have an unchallenged free reign. Rivalries are what are good for the sport. And right now Rafa and Novak are over the hill, despite their results, it's their genius which is winning them matches than Peak level of play. None of the other youngsters seem as consistent as Carlos. Hopefully a couple of guys step it up soon.
Agreed. As much as I enjoy watching Carlos win, sooner or later I would get bored seeing him win. This match, beating the best player at this moment, came as a surprise to me, which made the win all the more sweet. Same could be said for Rybakina.
I noticed the contrast between their boxes; Ferreira non-stop encouragement & coaching (even more annoying than Apistolos) while Cervera just sat there not moving - Meddy's whole box looked frozen. Have to wonder why.
Ferrero. And yes, he played his own game really well. He is like Cus D'Amato, in tennis version.
Interesting how the psychology beared down on this match and appreciate the point about sinner and Medvedev and playing their game. I think that is where Novak is so good. He is able to work out how to play each opponent.
Thanks!
Big Alc!!
what happened to spoiler alert 😢
In about two weeks there could be another final between these two in Miami. I am very curious to see if Carlos will be able to beat Medvedev again in the same way he did today. Can't wait to what happens.
Carlos is the new bully (i mean dominant player). Waiting for his encounters with Novak and a fully fit Nadal in the coming claycourt season, especially the French Open.
Waiting for clay season...
Silly and childish
@@mezomoza7 how?
He is amazing!
Congrats to all Alcaraz fans 🎉 but this hard court was very slow and windy that is all influence Danil, Carlos on other hand love slow court and heavy balls i am not sure that result will be equal on faster court.
It's one thing for Alcaraz to beat Medvedev in a competitive match, but to do it in this manner against a top tier hardcourt player on a 19 match winning streak is a huge statement. Similar to Nadal, Alcaraz has the power + variety to give Medvedev problems. To make matters worse, Carlos is the ultimate athlete a la young Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
7:25 No shit, a 19 year old kid prodigy finally finds some consistency with his incredibly vast tool set. Watch him get even more consistent when reaches his peak at 20, 21 years of age...
*Alcaraz : Meddy* [ _TennisTV_ stats ]
winners 18 : 5 (incl. aces 1 : 0)
unforcies 19 : 21
net points won 6/8 : 7/11
set1 winners 10 : 2 (incl. aces 0 : 0)
set1 unforcies 10 : 10
set1 npw 3/4 : 4/5
set2 winners 8 : 3 (incl. aces 1 : 0)
set2 unforcies 9 : 11
set2 npw 3/4 : 3/6
*Alcaraz : Meddy* [ _flashscore_ stats ]
winners 19 : 4 (incl. aces 1 : 0)
unforcies 10 : 14
net points won 10/13 : 8/15
set1 winners 10 : 2 (incl. aces 0 : 0)
set1 unforcies 6 : 8
set1 npw 7/8 : 4/8
set2 winners 9 : 2 (incl. aces 1 : 0)
set2 unforcies 4 : 6
set2 npw 3/5 : 4/7
Let's accept guys.....Carlitos is bringing a new play concept......shorten the points when everyone is killing others with useless rallies...and killing the beauty of tennis too.
He is going for the big kill...he is preserving himself for longevity, for big ticket titles.
With Juan Carlos at his back.....he's big time changing the tennis.
Alcaraz did not play the year end championship or Australian Open so he is missing points as well
Putting everything into context... Sinner did pretty well against Carlos! Apart from his skills & tennis IQ & everything else... Carlos has self-belief, which really makes the difference.
I think Sinner will be his greatest rival. Jannick has an amazing mentallity, imho the closest to Nadal and Djokovic in terms of strenght and resilience.
@@aha3885 I hope Sinner figures it out & finds the self-belief to really step up soon. I'm a big fan of his.
Was he tho? Alcaraz made error after error in first set and 2nd set he completely ran through him. Alcaraz at his best is unplayable.
Let me help you what are you using for listening your voice while you talk ??
Gil deserves 100x the subs
Meddy has a disdainful look when he shook hands .. almost as if he is unable to accept that Alcaraz is this good .. maybe meddy expected that he could win easy but this demolition job def has affected him
You think? Maybe it was just disappointed. He always has a kind of sour look imo!
It seems we're headed toward a Federer-like domination era post-Big 3, with Alcaraz winning almost everything. Unless Rune can get like Djokovic 2011 and come out firing from nowhere ofc, but I don't think that'll happen, unfortunately. RIP Golden Era 😢
I expected you to note the wind factor which seems to have frustrated Daniil just as much as the slow court he was fuming over. It seemed to me that he had given up entirely after the 1st game he dropped. Like he just wanted to get it over with asap.
Another factor was Daniil's return position, impossible to win standing that far if your opponent can play at net and drop shot.
The wind was for both.
@@meruendano indeed that's true. But it usually affects players differently based on style. Alcaraz's offensive game cuts through the wind more easily so he's less bothered. Medvedev's precision and consistency based defensive game is more impacted due to his strokes. Not an excuse, but definitely an important factor. As important as surface type or speed, some players have more adaptive games some favor more specific conditions.
@@markahmadieh7003 If there is an excuse It's the wind. All the strokes will be affected by that cause.
@@meruendano It's a factor not an excuse. Just like flat hitters do better on grass and topspin players do better on clay. The conditions impact the strokes, and wind is part of the conditions. Offensive games adapt easier to wind than counterpunchers that rely on consistency. If Roger is better than Rafa on grass for example, the court is a factor, not an excuse for Rafa. Reverse argument on clay. Humidity, heat, wind, indoor vs outdoor, surfaces.. they impact players differently, so pointing them out is not an excuse.
@@markahmadieh7003 I disagree, the wind affects both players equally regardless of their play style.
You can actually hear JCF telling Carlitos in spanish to take his time preparing the points!
I think Medvedev is very tired. he played the most matches that month
"Medvedev had won 19 matches in 31 days across three continents, four countries and 12 time zones." I noticed how much his hand was shaking when he signed the camera after the match with Tiafoe. He must have been exhausted by Sunday night, and then to have to face Carlos across the net. Carlos, of course, played great. But maybe that's why Meddy changed his playing style? He knew he couldn't physically play in his usual long rallies.
Alcaraz is like a more powerful version of Nadal.
Carlos is more refined, complete and better than teenage Nadal. That's for sure.
@@jacobschmidt2709 he’s got the potential to be the greatest ever. But longevity is the key. Nadal had amazing consistency.
@@jacobschmidt2709 Teenage Nadal had like double the titles Alcaraz has. He also won 2 slams and was beating peak Federer. You’re crazy if you actually believe that
I kinda prefer Alcaraz when he is in his boom or bust mode. I'm sure it'd be worst for his career but more fun to watch and would make games more unpredictable. If somebody has the talent to get away with this syle of play and still win somewhat consistently it's him.
I kinda felt like Medvedev was just trying stuff out. I kinda felt that way too for the tail end of the tiafoe second set. I feel like Medvedev doesn't want to run and dig deep physically except at grand slams now. He's kinda at that point where he's kinda done it all for a regular career and is now trying get in on the slam collection game.
the unedited cough and explanation got maybe he will get an editor soon W vid tho
Before the match Alcatraz said Medvedev was a wall that just didn't miss. It seems he went out to match this version of Medvedev that didn't show up.
Medvedev did not play well, of course, and maybe fatigue came into play. But at the same time, these mistakes are him doing stuff he’s not comfortable doing. He has clear limitations, especially on this surface where he has historically struggled. It was a gutsy effort just to make the final after a shaky performance against Tiafoe, an escape against Zverev and a tight match with Ivashka.
When we look at those errors in the first game of the second set, they’re all areas where Medvedev struggles. Backhand volley error? Well, he’s not comfortable with volleying, especially when his opponent is as quick as Alcaraz is so he has to do a lot with it. Forehand unforced from an attacking position? Again, textbook example of a player not being able to hit through the opponent on a slow surface. Even the double fault could have had something to do with how much Alcaraz attacked Medvedev’s second serve (like those two backhand returns in the 2-0 game of the second set). Medvedev struggled because he was forced to do things he isn’t good at doing. We all know Medvedev has extreme weaknesses paired with extreme strengths. Alcaraz and this surface bring out all of the weaknesses in his game.
I mean it’s not a coincidence that players have their “worst” matches when they’re in uncomfortable conditions. Think about Djokovic being unable to hit through Nadal on clay, leading to him often spraying unforced errors. Medvedev maybe could’ve turned in a better defensive performance here and grinded with Alcaraz, but this was not a winnable match in my opinion. Alcaraz at his best on this slow of a surface should be very comfortable against Medvedev.
Did the new rule that coaches may comment & encourage their players, have an effect perhaps? Keeping Alcaraz calm and 'within himself? 🤔
Very good point.
Medvedev Alcaraz could probably play out somewhat similar to Murray Nadal.
Perhaps, but Medvedev is no Murray.
Alcaraz needs to win Miami to keep number !
I think Medvedev lost steam. After 19 matches and three titles, he just was no longer fresh and just did not have the stamina anymore. the Final was just one match too far... Alcaraz made him run corner to corner; and the conditions did not favor Medvedev at all. Medvedev had to measure his shots and he was not as explosive as he could be. Alcaraz of course played the most intelligent match of his career. He was patient. And Gill is correct in this. But he also did not forego the explosive shots when he got the opportunity. He let rip... In any case, now it is Alcaraz who has to worry about maintaining his form as he moves to Miami. He and Medvedev are in the same boat. But he has played so much less than Medvedev. Here's hoping he can continue his run in Miami and win the Sunshine Double...
I only saw highlights, but Medvedev looked very passive and somewhat flat. Alcaraz clearly played brilliantly. He seemed to have developed great anti Medvedev tactics, some that Nick Kyrgios used.
Tbf, no excuses but Medvedev had 1 tire available. He still had ankle issues that Alcaraz exploited both early and late. Daniil got to a few but could not sustain moving forward, backward and side to side. Once Alcaraz served out wide to the forehand, he was attacking the net with volleys for winners- EASY!
This would have been a more competitve match with Tiafoe and even Djokovic.
Medvedev was out off gas ⛽️. That’s why he rushed.This match gave Novak the key 🔑 to bit Medvedev. Good 👍 for Carlitos. Enjoy the victory . The time will tell who is the #1
I don't like the court positioning of Medvedev when it comes to the return of serve. Particularly in this match against Alcaraz I felt it really hurt him. Alcaraz used it to his advantage with heavy sliced serves on the deuce court. He also was able to serve & volley effectively against Medvedev's far back return position. The drop shots Alcaraz employed also were effectively used against
Medvedev because of his return position. On the other side Carlos stood in closer to the baseline where he could hit outright winners on the return or at the very least rob Medevev of time. Medvedev needs to develop more variety in his game if he hopes to be able to fight for the #1 ranking in the future. Alcaraz's speed & patience seemed to frustrate Medvedvev right from the outset of this match, forcing Medvedev to feel he had to take more risks than he normally does.
Medvedev is really proving Gill wrong.