The stature of Daniil Medvedev is on the rise with every passing day. Though he hasn’t attained the consistency in winning Grand Slams, he still is prospering by defeating higher-ranked opponents at the majors. This is making heads turn and take notice of him. To Daniil’s pleasant surprise, the compliments he is receiving are coming from unexpected quarters and he isn’t complaining either.
One such surprise came in the form of a video, wherein a young tennis player was found emulating the “Octopus” playing style of Daniil Medvedev. The video went viral and caught the attention of tennis enthusiasts. Medvedev could have easily overlooked it or let it slip by. Instead, the former U.S. Open Champion took to Twitter(now called X) to respond in his unique style by quoting “Inspiring new generations” with a good dosage of emojis.
Inspiring new generations everywhere! 💪👍
— Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) September 18, 2023
This is quite a heartwarming gesture from a Grand Slam Champion. It could go on to motivate many more youngsters to take to the sport and get inspired by his prowess. Hopefully, he makes it past the final hurdle at Slams, more frequently, unlike this year’s U.S. Open where he stumbled against the legend himself, Novak Djokovic.
Daniil Medvedev strikes a chord with his unique and unorthodox style of play
Daniil was first called “Octopus” by his good friend and compatriot, Andriy Rublev. This was because Medvedev’s court coverage is top notch and he retrieves balls that even the very best find impossible to deal with. This gives the impression as if he plays with eight hands, though he plays with only two, hence the name.
Also, the 27-year-old Russian usually doesn’t shy away from voicing his opinions, though he very well knows it can backfire. He has a checkered past concerning altercations with the officials and the crowd. But that doesn’t stop him from expressing himself, which is one of the main reasons for the fandom he has created for himself and for the man he is today.
Next up though, for the World No.3 would be the hard court season starting in China, as Russia has been suspended from participating in this year’s Davis Cup and Laver Cup. This will culminate in the ATP tour finals at Turin, Italy, where the top 8 ranked players in the world are bound to participate. With the rich bane of form that Medvedev is in at the moment, you would be risking a bet against his triumph.
Thus, with his unique and unorthodox style of play and mannerisms, Daniil has captured the imagination of the tennis world. Hopefully, it won’t wither away and people from all age groups will look up to him for inspiration, enhancing his reputation. One thing is for certain though, the “Octopus” style is here to stay.