·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
World No.2 Daniil Medvedev has admitted he started grunting to mimic his opponent during his epic Australian Open quarter-final clash.
Medvedev summoned up astonishing reserves of spirit and quality to win a classic quarter-final 6-7 (4-7), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 6-4 after nearly five-hours on court against the impressive Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday.
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The Russian was two sets down against the ultra-talented Canadian, before making life harder for his opponent and stepping up the tempo.
During the comeback, fans noticed Medvedev had started grunting more when he was hitting shots.
Furthermore, fans started to question if he had mimicked Auger-Aliassime grunt.
Rarely would a player ever admit to a tactic like this.
Here it is. Medvedev imitating Felix’s grunt mid-tiebreak. This bloke’s mental game is next level. @AustralianOpen #ausopen @wwos @SamGrothTennis @BenRothenberg https://t.co/r4mH0mcPIs
— Michael Loupis (@MichaelLoopi) January 26, 2022
Hot topic in the TTP group chat:
Is Medvedev mimicking Auger-Aliassime's grunt?
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 26, 2022
Medvedev is 100% mocking Felix's grunt 😂😂😂
— Mohannad Alghamdi (@Arabic_Mohannad) January 26, 2022
What is going on with Medvedev's grunt tonight? It's like he's either sick or he's trying to sound like Felix 😂
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) January 26, 2022
They having a grunt off here. Medvedev sounds hilarious.
— Rhushil (@wadapavman) January 26, 2022
However, as we saw with Medvedev's interview earlier this week where he admitted to using mind games, the Russian has once again admitted to the mind games.
“To be honest, in life, I think that‘s my character, like when I talk to a person a lot, so when I have a best friend or wife, they get nervous because I start to be like them in many things and I do it not on purpose,” he said.
“That’s just how I am. Same, as I say, if I have a new friend and I’ll talk to him a lot, I’ll start to do some phrases like him. I’ll start to sometimes act like him and he’s going to be like, What the hell, man? Why you doing that?
“I think definitely I didn‘t do this on purpose, like not zero per cent. I think it’s just, yeah, he was putting a lot of intensity in his grunt, and when I started to like really fight for, you know, for my life, I was, like, I’m going to grunt also.
“I didn’t think about this, but now when I rethink, it’s true that some points I was like after the point, 'Did I just grunt kind of like him?'
“So, yeah, it was not on purpose.”
Daniil Medvedev admits to mind games
Medvedev has admitted to using mind games earlier in the tournament.
Agaist Maxime Cressy the Russian admitted he wasn't happy with some of his 'mind games' he started to use during the match.
One comment that caught the attention of spectators was at 1-1 in the fourth set when Medvedev hit a forehand return wide.
Medvedev was walking to his return mark when he yelled out: "This is so boring."
However, following the match, Medvedev spoke to Eurosport and admitted a lot of his comments were designed to get in the head of his opponent.
"During the match I got a little bit crazy, I think with myself," Medvedev said.
"I was trying to talk something in the air to get into his mind a little bit so maybe he starts saying 'what the hell is Medvedev saying' and misses some shots."
Medvedev added: "I'm not happy with what I said today."
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