Daniil Medvedev pleased with leaping overhead smash against Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells reminiscent of Roger Federer's against Andy Roddick
Daniil Medvedev moved into the quarterfinals of the 2023 Indian Wells Open in style, coming back from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the fourth round on Tuesday.
In a match that contained several moments of magic from both players, the World No. 6's highlight of the day was a leaping overhead smash in the second set tiebreaker. It was a cross-court winner from the back of the court past a fully stretched Zverev to take a mini break.
One of the best tennis shots you'll see all year from Daniil Medvedev https://t.co/DKGdr5o0hD
The shot was very similar to the overhead smash Roger Federer hit against Andy Roddick during their quarterfinal clash at the 2002 Swiss Indoors. Patrick McEnroe even maintained that Federer's effort was "the best shot" of the 20-time Grand Slam champion's career.
Daniil Medvedev himself noted the similarities between the two during his press conference afterwards.
He opined that Federer's was tougher as he had to do it while on the run and off the court. At the same time, he pointed to how his had a lot more importance considering the context of the match, as he was a set down at that stage and could not risk going for the audacious.
The 27-year-old also considered himself lucky to pull it off. He believes he could not have made it if Zverev hadn't hit the ball straight at him or if the courts in Indian Wells hadn't been as slow as they are this year.
"First I saw some comments about Federer overhead. I was like, 'Which one?' Then I remembered the one against Roddick," Daniil Medvedev said.
"His one was tougher because he was on the run and out of the court. But if I remember right, the moment was a little bit less tight, in a way, because we had 1-All in the tiebreak and I was one set to love down.
"Yeah, I got in a way lucky that he put the ball where I was standing. I'm also lucky that the courts here are slow, so I could actually hit it and it didn't go over my head. Yeah, the timing, the position of the ball was perfect, so I managed to kind of, in a way, hit the serve, but from very far position."
As "amazing" as the shot was, the former US Open champion made it clear that it was not one he could practice in training. He also maintained, however, that he was glad to have such life-saving winners in his repertoire.
"Only thing I said to myself, 'Just hit it full power, there is no other choice,' Daniil Medvedev explained.
"I hit it crosscourt. It was amazing shot. Well, even if you try to practice it, you probably miss eight or nine out of ten. That was one lucky one. Yeah, that's great to have such shots in such important moments. That saves your life."
"Pretty painful, but nothing too bad hopefully" - Daniil Medvedev updates status of ankle injury he sustained against Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells
Midway through the second set, Daniil Medvedev had a minor injury scare, when he rolled his ankle during a point and had to opt for a medical timeout. Thankfully, he was able to play after getting his foot taped and eventually held on to take the win.
Touching on the injury during his press conference, Medvedev revealed that it was very painful at the beginning. At the same time, he was of the opinion that it helped him a bit in the contest, taking his mind off the scoreline and letting him focus just on his own game.
"In the beginning it was quite painful, so I was more concerned and focused on my ankle than the game," the Russian saidn.
"Then that actually helped me a little bit to play better. Then, for the rest of the match, adrenaline was probably kicking in. So it was not easy to walk, that's why I was limping, but to move was easier.
"And so in a way I can understand how tough it is for the opponent when he sees you limping and then running for all the dropshots and stuff, which is completely normal," Daniil Medvedev said.
The World No. 1 could not walk properly now that all the adrenaline had left his body. However, he hoped it would improve over the course of the next 24 hours before his quarterfinal clash against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
"Now that I have cooled down, it's big. I cannot walk properly. But if everything is going to be fine, I'm gonna tape it tomorrow, take one painkiller, and go to play. So not much more to add for the moment. Pretty painful, but nothing too bad hopefully," Daniil Medvedev said.