How Daniil Medvedev Can Get Past An In-Form Stefanos Tsitsipas in French Open 2021 QF

Apart from the usual suspects in Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have emerged as two of the strongest title contenders into the second week at Roland-Garros.

However, only one of them would still be standing at the end of the quarter-final at the Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was routed by Daniil Medvedev at Australian Open

Medvedev, the current World No.2, had the measure of Tsitsipas in the semi-final of this year’s Australian Open. In fact, such was the Russian’s extent of dominance that evening at Melbourne Park that it ended up as a lopsided affair.

Whipping winners off his handle and blinding the World No.5 Greek with an array of dazzling shots, Medvedev raced to a 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 win. However, it’s a different Tsitsipas he will run into at the iconic Parisian arena on Wednesday and chances are that the last-eight clash won’t be decided in straight sets.

Between the Melbourne Park defeat and the Wednesday blockbuster, Tsitsipas lifted his maiden Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo and followed it up with his second Tour title on clay this year at Lyon.

What’s more, the Greek has been in scintillating form at Roland-Garros, dropping a set just once on his way to reaching the last eight.

Barring the third-round clash against big-serving American John Isner, where he suffered an opening-set wobble before recovering to win four sets, the World No.5 has looked in no trouble whatsoever. 

Even in his round-4 encounter against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who is no less accomplished on clay, Tsitsipas seemed largely untroubled in his 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 win.

Medvedev will take a 6-1 head-to-head lead over Tsitsipas into French Open QF

Medvedev too has been nothing short of a revelation at Roland-Garros as, after a string of underwhelming returns across the European clay court season, the Russian came into his own when it mattered, reaching the last eight in Paris on the back of impressive wins across four rounds.

Opening his campaign with a straight-set romp over Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, the Russian made short work of former junior champion Tommy Paul, big-serving Reilly Opelka and high-flying Chilean Cristian Garin to reach the quarters.

And, threateningly for Tsitsipas, he seems to be peaking with every match.

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The gameplan for the Russian, who will go into Wednesday’s clash with a 6-1 head-to-head lead over the Greek, would be to draw Tsitsipas to the net and whip those blazing forehand and backhand winners past him.

However, the problem with that is the Greek has a better volley game and could give the Russian good grief on the net.

Read More: All You Need to Know About the Bitter Rivalry Between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev

What’s guaranteed, however, is an absorbing battle, with neither player backing down and a place in a French Open semi-final at stake.