Daniil Medvedev has accused organisers of the Shanghai Masters of bias towards players with “crazy power” like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Russian is through to the last-16 in China after his battling three-set win over Matteo Arnaldi, but appeared anything but happy both during and after the clash.
The fifth seed lost the first set before holding his nerve to eventually come through 5-7 6-4 6-4, but then delivered a pointed message as he left the court.
Using a marker pen, Medvedev wrote “nice balls” on a television camera before smiling and laughing.
The issue of the tennis balls has been apparent in Shanghai, with players complaining that the ones being used during the event were too slow. And former world No.1 Medvedev has now argued that he’s been left at a disadvantage compared to Sinner and Alcaraz.
“I think it it basically favours people who can benefit power from dead balls,” he said. “Some have better quality with this. Some don’t. Actually the two best players at doing this, they’re already the best players in the world, and I’m sure they would be without the balls
“But with these balls, they’re the only players who can generate crazy power. It’s Jannik and Carlos. It gives them an extra edge. But I try to fight with what I can. I try to get this power, which I’ve never had since I was young.”
Medvedev also claimed his “body type” meant he wasn’t suited to the balls, but despite his displeasure also underlined his target to go all the way at the event in the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. “There were tests on the muscle that measure power, explosiveness, and I don’t really have the explosiveness,” he added.
“I can generate a lot of power like going through the ball, but not when the ball is stopped. I try to do what I can. I still play not bad. I’m fighting and I wanna go all the way.”
To do that though, Medvedev is likely to have to overcome either Sinner or Alcaraz. The two players, who have shared all four Grand Slam tournaments between them this year, play their own second-round matches on Sunday.
