WATCH: Daniil Medvedev loses his cool, repeatedly smashes his racket in anger during crushing loss to Jannik Sinner in Six Kings Slams QF
Daniil Medvedev's frustrations boiled over during his clash against Jannik Sinner at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Russian vented his anger by repeatedly smashing his racket onto the court in a heated display.
Although Medvedev emerged victorious in his six encounters with Sinner, the Italian has since turned the tables in their rivalry, winning seven of their last eight matches. The World No. 1 also triumphed in their most recent meeting in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, claiming a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory en route to his title win.
Jannik Sinner's dominance continued at the Six Kings Slam, as the Italian produced a clinical display to win the opening set 6-0, handing Daniil Medvedev his first bagel since 2020. The Russian's struggles didn't abate in the second set, with Sinner breaking his serve to take a 4-3 lead.
Medvedev had the opportunity to break back and level their scores, but the 28-year-old squandered four crucial break points, allowing the World No. 1 to extend his lead to 5-3. In a display of frustration after an errant shot, the Russian repeatedly flung his racket to the court.
The World No. 5's agitation was evident, as he continued to display his anger by violently smashing his racket on the ground.
Sinner eventually claimed a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory over Medvedev to advance to the semifinals of the Six Kings Slam.
Jannik Sinner to face Novak Djokovic in Six Kings Slam SF after win over Daniil Medvedev
Jannik Sinner took satisfaction in his commanding performance against Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals of the Six Kings Slam, especially given that he had only one practice session in Riyadh before the match.
"It was a very good performance considering I arrived just a couple days ago, not even. And I only had one practice session," Sinner said in his post-match interview.
"I was looking forward to coming here. It’s a special place. Us players love it. It’s very very new. We are some of the best six tennis players in the world," he added.
Following his win over Medvedev, the World No. 1 will square off against Novak Djokovic for a place in the final. The highly anticipated encounter will mark a rematch of their recent title clash at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, where Sinner claimed a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory.
If Jannik Sinner emerges victorious against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, he will take on Carlos Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster final in Riyadh. Alcaraz defeated Holger Rune 6-4, 6-2 to book his place against his fellow Spaniard.