Rivalries
Rivalries: Medvedev vs. Zverev
Pair will meet in Beijing quarter-finals on Monday
September 28, 2025
Paul Crock/AFP through Getty Pictures
Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev’s solely Grand Slam assembly up to now got here on the 2024 Australian Open.
By ATP Employees
Standing at 6’6”, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev’s attributes have helped them attain the highest of the sport. The pair crush serves and are good defenders, utilizing their lengthy levers to hold in factors and switch the tables.
When dealing with off, Medvedev and Zverev have had tight clashes on Tour. Zverev received the primary 4 matches of their rivalry, however Medvedev has since responded, successful 13 of the pair’s previous 16 encounters to assert a 13-7 benefit of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection. They are going to meet once more on Monday with a semi-final spot on the China Open in Beijing on the road.
Forward of their twenty first tour-level encounter, ATPTour.com seems to be at six of their previous blockbusters.
Australian Open 2024, SF, Medvedev d Zverev 5-7, 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-3
Remarkably, Zverev and Medvedev didn’t meet at a significant till their nineteenth Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict. When it lastly occurred, within the semi-finals on the 2024 Australian Open, the event didn’t disappoint.
Medvedev rallied remarkably from two units down and later from two factors from defeat within the fourth-set tie-break to assert a surprising victory inside Rod Laver Enviornment. It was Medvedev’s third five-set win of his 2024 Australian Open run, and his second from two units down after his second-round win in opposition to Emil Ruusuvuori.
Medvedev’s win in opposition to Zverev in Melbourne was very a lot ‘a story of two halves’. The then-World No. 3’s first-serve proportion elevated from 50 per cent throughout the primary two units to 71 per cent within the decider, and he hit 22 extra winners within the last three units in comparison with the primary two.
“I used to be slightly bit misplaced however throughout the third set I stated if I used to be going to lose this match I used to be going to be pleased with myself,” Medvedev stated of his four-hour, 18-minute victory in opposition to Zverev. “I wish to battle till the top and if I lose, I lose. I managed to win, and I’m very proud.”
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2023, Third Spherical, Medvedev d. Zverev 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7)
For the second straight time within the rivalry, Medvedev rallied from a set right down to edge Zverev in a razor-tight end. On this event, Medvedev saved two match factors and twice denied his opponent’s makes an attempt to serve out the match on the Monte-Carlo clay.
Zverev served at 5-4 in each the second and third units, however needed to wait till 6/5 within the final-set tie-break for his first match level. His second match level got here on serve at 7/6, when Medvedev edged a tension-filled rally, the third seed’s stable play down the stretch in the end proving the distinction within the late-night marathon.
“That was a loopy match,” Medvedev stated of the competition, which featured a mixed 11 service breaks amidst peaks and valleys for each gamers.
“He served two instances for the match, he most likely ought to have performed higher, however that can also be clay courts. I attempted to look at numerous tennis earlier than enjoying this match, and one factor that I noticed is you’ll be able to come again at any second. The serve doesn’t depend as a lot, in order quickly as somebody will get slightly bit tight, the match can flip round in a single second. That’s what I managed to do.”
BNP Paribas Open 2023, Fourth Spherical, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5
Medvedev prolonged his successful streak to 17 matches with victory on this Indian Wells odyssey. After dropping a decent opening set, the eventual finalist rolled his proper ankle however recovered to edge Zverev in a three-hour, 16-minute thriller.
After saving all 10 break factors in opposition to him within the second set, Medvedev produced a surprising defensive smash within the tie-break and in the end compelled a decider. Zverev denied his first try at serving out the win at 5-4 within the third, however Medvedev made no mistake on his second alternative.
The 27-year-old completed the match with 40 winners and tightened up his baseline recreation to absorb Zverev’s energy because the match wore on.
“Once I twisted [my ankle], I assumed I used to be going to face up simply positive,” Medvedev stated of the dramatic fall. “However then the ache began rising very quick, so I used to be like ‘That’s not signal.’ I felt like I did not break it however I felt that one of many ligaments was slightly injured, so I assumed I wasn’t going to have the ability to play.”
Nitto ATP Finals 2021, Spherical Robin, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(6)
In one of many matches of the 2021 season, Medvedev and Zverev went blow-to-blow for 2 hours and 35 minutes in group play in Turin, earlier than Medvedev as soon as once more got here out on prime to earn his fifth straight win in opposition to the German.
Each got here into the match holding a 1-0 round-robin file after Medvedev downed Hubert Hurkacz, whereas Zverev had led Matteo Berrettini by a set earlier than the Italian was compelled to retire as a result of damage.
The pair, who additionally met within the round-robin stage on the season finale in 2020, struck their groundstrokes fiercely with Medvedev efficiently absorbing the German’s heavy-hitting. In a tense third-set tie-break, Medvedev discovered a deep return on his backhand to maneuver 6/4 forward, however Zverev stepped as much as save each match factors as Medvedev tried to serve and volley. Nonetheless, it solely delayed the result, with Medvedev sealing victory on his third match level to achieve the semi-finals.
“Undoubtedly one of many matches to recollect,” Medvedev stated.
Zverev rapidly gained revenge, nevertheless, snapping a five-match dropping streak to defeat Medvedev 6-4, 6-4 within the championship match 5 days later to clinch his second Nitto ATP Finals crown.
ATP Cup 2021, SF, Medvedev d. Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
In simply the primary week of the 2021 season, Medvedev and Zverev met in Melbourne as they competed on the ATP Cup.
Medvedev had swept apart Diego Schwartzman and Kei Nishikori in his opening two matches of the yr, whereas Zverev had downed Denis Shapovalov earlier than he misplaced to Novak Djokovic in three units.
Enjoying underneath the closed roof on Rod Laver Enviornment, Medvedev performed patiently as he overcame a serving onslaught from Zverev by adjusting his return place, standing deeper behind the baseline to rally from a break down within the second set. In a decent decider, a double fault from Zverev gave Medvedev the late break at 6-5 and from there he secured victory, warding off 5 break factors in his last service recreation to win.
“When it is in opposition to Sascha and you might be 6-3, 3-2 break down, many instances you are going to lose a match,” Medvedev stated. “However I wanted to maintain my possibilities alive for the crew initially, for the nation. I simply tried to remain there, bought a bit tight perhaps. I simply did my job and I am actually blissful about it.”
Miami Open offered by Itau 2018, Second Spherical, Zverev d. Medvedev 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5)
Miami was a particular place for Zverev firstly of his profession. It was the location of his first ATP Masters 1000 win in 2015 in addition to his first High 10 victory on the elite stage in 2017 when he defeated prime seed Stan Wawrinka en path to the quarter-finals.
In 2018, his second-round victory in opposition to Medvedev acted as a springboard for additional success, with the German happening to achieve the ultimate (l. to Isner).
Taking a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head collection lead in opposition to Medvedev into the match, Zverev mixed energy with guile. The then-20-year-old fired 25 winners throughout the match and brought on Medvedev hassle along with his backhand slice. He compelled Medvedev low and disrupted his rhythm to attract errors within the third-set tie-break, together with a misfired forehand on match level.
“He is the most effective servers on Tour,” Zverev stated. “On his serve, something can occur. I used to be simply blissful to take my possibilities within the tie-break and capitalise at 6/5 to win the match.”
Competing for the two hundredth time at tour-level, Zverev improved to 126-74 along with his win.
View their Lexus ATP Head2Head series here.
